Skip to main content
Log in

Intrafamilial meningococcal meningitis

  • Case Reports
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two couples of sibs presented with meningococcal meningitis. In both families, immediate preventive measures were not taken due to a negative cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) smear in the first case from Family A, and a negative CSF smear and culture in the first case from Family B. All the children were treated successfully. Our recommendations are: a) contacts of patients with pyogenic meningitis should have close clinical surveillance, and b) contacts of meningococcal infection should have nasopharyngeal cultures and should be given a prophylactic antibiotic such as rifampicin or minocycline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bristow WM, Van Peenen PFD, Volk R (1965) Epidemic meningitis in naval recruits. Am J Publ Health 55:1039–1045

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cragg J, Bennett EF (1959) Meningococcal meningitis. A family study. Lancet I:248–249

    Google Scholar 

  3. Deal WB, Sanders E (1969) Efficacy of rifampin in treatment of meningococcal carriers. N Engl J Med 281:641–645

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gauld JR, Nitz RE, Hunter DH, Rust JH, Gauld RL (1965) Epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis at Fort Ord. Am J Epidemiol 82:56–72

    Google Scholar 

  5. Greenfield S, Feldman HA (1967) Familial carriers and meningococcal meningitis. N Engl J Med 277:497–502

    Google Scholar 

  6. Grossman J, Tompkins RL (1974) Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal meningitis in mother and infant. N Engl J Med 290:387–388

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kloss JL (1967) Hemophilus influenzae meningitis in siblings. Clin Pediatr 6:580–581

    Google Scholar 

  8. Koppes GM, Ellenbogen C, Gebhart RJ (1977) Group Y meningococcal disease in USAF recruits. Am J Med 62:661–666

    Google Scholar 

  9. McCormick JB, Bennett JV (1975) Public health considerations in management of meningococcal disease. Ann Intern Med 83:883–886

    Google Scholar 

  10. Millar JW, Siess EE, Feldman HA, Silverman C, Frank P (1963) In vivo and in vitro resistance to sulfadiazine in strains of Neisseria meningtidis. J.A.M.A. 186:139–141

    Google Scholar 

  11. Munford RS, Taunay AE, de Morais JS, Fraser DW, Feldman RA (1974) Spread of meningococcal infection within households. Lancet I:1275–1278

    Google Scholar 

  12. Smith H (1977) Bacterial meningitis In: Antibiotics in Clinical Practice, 3rd edn. Pitman Medical Publishing Co. Ltd, Kent, pp 250–279

    Google Scholar 

  13. Tempest B (1974) Pneumococcal meningitis in mother and neonate. Pediatrics 53:759–760

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Naveh, Y., Merzbach, D. Intrafamilial meningococcal meningitis. Eur J Pediatr 134, 265–267 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441484

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441484

Key words

Navigation