Bacterial Meningitis in Infants Aged 29 to 90 Days: Clinical, Aetiological and Prognostic Aspects in Yaoundé
Méningite Bactérienne chez les Nourrissons Âgés de 29 à 90 Jours : Aspects Cliniques, Étiologiques et Pronostiques à Yaoundé
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19510522Keywords:
Bacterial meningitis, infants under three months of age, CameroonAbstract
Introduction. Despite 112,000 deaths worldwide attributed to childhood meningitis in 2021, data specific to the bacterial form of the disease in infants under three months of age remain insufficient in our local context. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical, aetiological and prognostic features of bacterial meningitis in infants under three months of age in Yaoundé. Patients and Methods. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in our hospital from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020, evaluating febrile infants aged 29 to 90 days with suspected bacterial meningitis who had undergone a lumbar puncture. Results. A total of 300 infants were included, with a mean age of 56 ± 17 days. The main clinical manifestations were fever (100%), irritability (44.7%), refusal to feed (31.3%) and a bulging fontanelle (16.7%). Bacterial meningitis was confirmed in nine infants (3%). The identified pathogens were: Streptococcus pneumoniae (5 cases, 55.6%), Group B Streptococcus (2 cases, 22.2%), Neisseria meningitidis (1 case, 11.1%) and Haemophilus influenzae (1 case, 11.1%). The main in-hospital complications were respiratory distress (56%), status epilepticus (33%), cerebral abscess (11%) and hydrocephalus (11%). There were no deaths. Conclusion. In urban areas of Cameroon, bacterial meningitis in infants under three months of age is rare (3%). It presents mainly as fever associated with neurological signs (irritability, refusal to feed, incessant crying, lethargy). Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main pathogen identified in this age group.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Kago-Tague Daniel Armand, Fomonyuy Clodette Berinyuy, Tchouamo Sime Annick Arielle, Tony Nengom Jocelyne, Aminatou Donna, Nguefack Félicitée, Mah Evelyn, Nguefack Séraphin
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