DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i01.082

Pages: 421-426

Meningitis is a severe and feared disease, caused by an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and other agents. Many of the viruses and bacteria that cause meningitis are fairly common and often associated with routine illnesses. Bacterial meningitis is much less common but may result in severe complications. Therefore, it is extremely important to identify and treat bacterial meningitis early. To know the epidemiological picture of meningitis in patients at Benghazi Pediatric Hospital. A descriptive- cross sectional study conducted in Pediatric Hospital, Benghazi during a one year period from 1.1.2012 to 31.12.2012. The majority of meningitis cases were in males (58.5%) (41.5% in females), while the majority of meningitis cases were in the age group of below 1 year with 79.7%. In addition majority of meningitis cases were of the Bacterial type (44.1%) followed by the viral type (19.5%). Furthermore, most cases were in the Autumn (36.4%), followed by Summer (2.2%), Spring (19.5%), and Winter (11.9%). The most common drug used was Recphin (57.6%). The study shows that meningitis infection in males was more than in females, and it's common at children aged below 1 year. Bacterial type is more common than viral type, the most common drugs used was Recphin, the bacterial meningitis is more common during autumn and viral meningitis is more common during summer.