Hemophilus meningitis: comparison of H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae.

Eleven cases of Hemophilus meningitis seen in the last year are reported. Three were H. parainfluenzae and eight were H. influenzae. The number of patients is small but probably indicates that there is little difference in the clinical or laboratory data in meningitis caused by these two organisms. The children with H. parainfluenzae tended to be less anemic and had more normal admission spinal fluid sugars and proteins, but this was probably because these patients were older and had shorter prodromes. As more cases of H. parainfluenzae meningitis are noted, it seems likely that there will not be any difference in the clinical or laboratory data. Two of the three cases of H. parainfluenzae meningitis had the complication of ataxia secondary to severe bilateral vestibular deficits. Finally, it should be noted that these two organisms will not be distinguished by routine bacteriological studies, and that differentiation must be carried out by an experimental laboratory.