MENINGOCOCCIC MENINGITIS
- 27 June 1942
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in JAMA
- Vol. 119 (9) , 695-696
- https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1942.02830260009003
Abstract
Seventeen cases of meningococcic meningitis were admitted to this hospital during the period from July 1941 to March 1942. They afforded us an opportunity to verify two principles, namely (1) that the initial spinal fluid sugar content is inversely proportional to the virulence of the organism and (2) that in favorable cases there is a gradual increase in the spinal fluid sugar as the number of viable organisms is decreased. Repeated quantitative determinations of the spinal fluid sugar have made it possible to predict the outcome in cases showing no clinical improvement. It is to be emphasized that the result of the clashing forces, body resistances and virulence of the organisms determines the severity of the disease. CLINICAL FEATURES AND COMMENT All 17 patients presented classic signs and symptoms of meningitis on admission. Seven patients had petechiae, and of these 5 had bacteremia. The presence of a positive blood cultureKeywords
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