Management and outcome of childhood meningitis in east Malaysia.

Between January 1983 and June 1986, 62 cases of meningitis were seen in the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah. The commonest organism were H. influenza (14.5%) Strep Pneumoniae (12.9%) tuberculosis (12.9%) L monocytogenes (12.9%) and N. meningitidis (11.3%). There was a strong association between meningitis and the following: Children under one year of age, from a low socioeconomic group, and from urban dwelling immigrant groups. Mortality was significant (19.4%) but comparable to that in other developing countries. The presence of ampicillin-resistant strains of H. influenza and L. monocytogenes has important bearing on choice of antibiotic therapy for meningitis in this region.