Neurologic Sequelae of Meningitis

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Abstract
Most meningitis that occurs in the United States cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Haemophilus influenzae remains the primary etiologic agent, with Streptococcus pneumoniae a distant second and Neisseria meningitidis third. Although there has been a small but perceptible decrease in the case fatality rate since penicillin, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin became available, the medical importance of meningitis derives principally from its neurologic sequelae. In the period from 1954 to 1960, the fatality rate was 9.75 percent,1 from 1968 to 1970 it was 4.4 percent,2 and from 1982 to 1983, 1.5 percent.3 The major sequelae of meningitis consist of motor . . .