Epidemiology and Risk Factors Associated with Developing Bacterial Meningitis among Children in Gaza Strip

BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis is still the leading cause of high morbidity and mortality among the children. The present study was conducted to determine the epidemiology, clinical characteristics of bacterial meningitis and to evaluate the risk factors associated with developing the infection. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted in three hospitals of Gaza strip -Palestine during the period 2009. All the children with clinical diagnosis of meningitis /meningoencephalitis admitted to these hospitals were included in the study. They were subjected to clinical examination as well as CSF bacteriological and serological investigations. RESULTS: During the period (2009), 1853 patients were admitted to the hospitals with suspect of meningitis by pediatricians, 73 (3.9%) proved by culture to be acute bacterial meningitis, of these patients 62% were males and 38% were females. The common isolated pathogens were Neisseria meningitides (47.9%), Streptococcus pneumonia (15.1%), Haemophilus influenza (13.7%), E. coli (11.0%), Enterobacter spp. (6.8%), Citrobacter spp. (2.7%), Providencia spp. (1.4%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.4%). The common recorded symptoms were fever (78%), neck stiffness (47%), vomiting (37%), poor feeding (19%), and irritability (16%). Statistical analysis showed that there was statistical significance associated developing of infection with malnutrition (low hemoglobin level), high house crowdness and irritability (P-value <0.05). The ANOVA statistical analysis showed that S. pneumonia has an impact on developing low hemoglobin level and leukocytosis. CONCLUSION: N. meningitides is still dominant and needs vaccination. The risk factors should be taken into consideration in any future plan.