Meningitis in Young Infants Less than 2 Months; Its Implications and Outcome

Meningitis, i.e., inflammation of membranes covering the brain parenchyma, is a serious problem in children especially in young infants as it is not only associated with adverse short-term outcomes but also leads to abnormal neurodevelopment including sensory neural deafness later in life. Streptococcus pneumoniae is among the leading causative organisms of meningitis in young infants. Advances in the diagnosis and management of such babies have led to decrease in the mortality from meningitis. However, certain areas such as completion of antimicrobial therapy, monitoring of these babies for complications such as post-meningitic hydrocephalus, ventriculitis, need to be addressed. With missed diagnosis, a large cohort of such babies lands up with chronic disability. There is a need to understand the management of such cases including follow-up so that they survive with good neurological outcomes