Acute Bacterial Meningitis Beyond the Neonatal Period

Cause of bacterial meningitis and its treatment during the neonatal period (0-28 days)

are generally different from those in older infants and children

ETIOLOGY.

Organism -

First 2 mo of life - maternal flora or the environment of the infant - group B

Streptococcus, gram-negative enteric bacilli, and Listeria monocytogenes, H. influenzae

Bacterial meningitis in children 2 mo-12 yr of age is due to S. pneumoniae, N.

meningitidis, or H. influenzae type b.

Asthma

A leading cause of chronic illness in childhood.

Asthma is the most frequent admitting diagnosis in children's hospitals

10-15% of boys and 7-10% of girls may have asthma at some time during childhood.

Asthma can lead to severe psychosocial disturbances in the family.

With proper treatment, however, satisfactory control of symptoms is usually possible.

Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis

It is acute nephritic syndrome: the sudden onset of gross hematuria, edema, hypertension, and

renal insufficiency. Most common cause of gross hematuria in children next is IgA

nephropathy 

STAPHYLOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA.

Pneumonia caused by S. aureus

serious and rapidly progressive infection.

less frequent than viral or pneumococcal pneumonia. 

Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis is associated with infection of the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and the trachea is usually involved. Bronchiolitis is an entirely different illness Asthma exacerbations are triggered by upper respiratory tract infections. Calling such exacerbations "asthmatic bronchitis," although technically correct, may confuse parents  Acute tracheobronchitis is commonly associated with an upper respiratory tract infection such as nasopharyngitis, influenza, Pertussis, measles, typhoid fever, diphtheria. Pneumococci, staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae, and hemolytic streptococci may be isolated from the sputum, but their presence does not imply a bacterial cause, and antibiotic therapy does not appreciably alter the course of the illness. Allergy, climate, air pollution, and chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract, particularly sinusitis, may be contributing factors.