Long‐term Prognosis after H. influenzae Meningitis: Prospective Evaluation

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Abstract
A prospective, long-term evaluation was made of 22 children who had recovered from H. influenzae type B meningitis. At the time of the illness they had been either 2 mo.-2 yr of age (group A) or > 4 yr of age (group B), the purpose being to compare outcome in infants with that in older children. Two children, 1 in each group, had neurological or auditory sequelae. None of the others had neurological or auditory deficit, nor was there evidence of growth retardation. Fifteen of the children were tested psychometrically, using siblings as controls. Five had an IQ of 70-90, but in all but 1 case their siblings had a similar IQ. Five of 7 children in group B performed poorly on 2 items in the psychometric test, but so did their siblings. Thus, care is evidently needed in selecting a control group with which to compare children being tested for psychomotor retardation after meningitis.