A prospective study of bacterial meningitis in children from north-eastern Libya.

During a 14-month period, 77 children (excluding neonates) with bacterial meningitis were studied. The causative organisms were identified in 60 children: Haemophilus influenzae in 26 (34%), Streptococcus pneumoniae in 20 (26%), Gram-negative enteric bacilli in nine (12%) and beta-haemolytic streptococci group A in one. No organism was identified in 17 (22%) cases. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. The age group most affected was between 2 and 12 months. The case mortality rate was 13% and nine children (12%) were left with permanent neurological sequelae.