Prognostic features of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis:a report of 77 cases

Objective:To investigate the prognostic features of patients with epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. Methods:The seasonal and age distribution, the clinical features and prognosis, and the complications of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis were analyzed among 77 patients treated in our hospital. Results:The mean age of all cases was(23.96±18.21) years old. The main clinical features were as follows:fever,headache,conscious disturbance and petechia or ecchymosis of skins. In all 77 cases,55 cases were ordinary type,and 22 cases fulminant type. Four patients died in hospital and 6 patients were discharged from hospital without recovery. The factors associated with bad outcome were DIC, shock, cerebral hernia, respiratory failure or other organ function lesions. Neisseria meningitidis were found through bacteriologic culture in 13 cases,and some were identified as serogroup C. Conclusions:Multiple organ function lesion is a significant characteristic for epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis. The symptoms of the patients are usually heavier,and it maybe was correlated with vibration of bacterial community.