[The etiology of purulent meningoencephalitis in pediatrics. The therapeutic implications]. / Etiología de la meningoencefalitis purulenta en pediatría. Implicaciones terapéuticas.

In order to know the etiology of purulent meningitis in infant and children, a retrospective study was done; 709 cases of a pediatric infectious disease service were analyzed. Diagnosis was established either by antigen detection (coagglutination) or bacterial culture. In 334/709 (48%) the bacterial agent was identifies. Haemophilus influenzae type b (70%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (14%), Enterobacteriaceae (8%) and Streptococcus sp (6.5%) were the most frequent. According to our results the epidemiologic pattern of purulent meningitis has not changed. A therapeutic approach is suggested.