Outcome of Treatment of Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis in Children Complicated by Febrile Episodes

Aim: In this retrospective study, 20 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis were analysed to assess the outcome of treatment. Methods: Bacteriologically proven cases of meningitis due to Hib were included in this study. The clinical and relevant laboratory data were retrieved from the hospital files. Results: Thirteen patients were treated with a combination of cefotaxime and ampicillin, 4 with cefotaxime, 2 with ceftriaxone and 1 with a combination of ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Only 9 children received concomitant dexamethasone. Nine (45%) cases experienced permanent defervescence within 4 days of admission and were discharged from the hospital after an average stay of 10.5 days. The overall rates of secondary (25%), persistent (5%) and prolonged fever (25%) were observed with an average number of days in hospital of 20.4, 20.0 and 22.8, respectively. Conclusion: Although there was no mortality, there is still a need for appropriate short-duration therapy which will help in bringing about a decline in febrile episodes, thereby reducing cost of management and hospital stay.