• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.721-724
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• 2009

Meningococcal infections can be associated with abnormalities of the complement system, which contains 5 terminal complement proteins. Furthermore, deficiencies in 1 of these 5, complement component 7 (C7), leads to the loss of complement lytic function, and affected patients show increased susceptibility to recurrent meningococcal meningitis and systemic Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. In September 2003, an 11-year-old female patient presented at our outpatient department with high fever, lower leg pain, headache, and petechiaes. She rapidly progressed to coma but later achieved full recovery due to prompt treatment. Her final diagnosis was meningococcal sepsis and arthritis. Her elder brother also had a similar bacterial meningoencephalitis history, which encouraged us to perform analyses for complement component and gene mutations. Resultantly, both the brother and sister were found to have the same mutation in the C7 gene. Subsequently, vaccinations of the meningococcal vaccine meningococcal vaccine ($Menomune^{(R)}$) were administered. However, in September 2006, the brother expired due to acute micrococcus meningoencephalitis. At present, the 16-year-old female patient is healthy. Here, we report a Korean family with a hereditary C7 deficiency with susceptibility to meningococcal infections due to C7 gene mutation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2018

Sepsis and meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis are rare in neonates, but neonatal sepsis and meningitis are associated with a high rate of mortality. Meningococcal disease is commonly reported in older children and adolescents and is known to be more prevalent in community settings. In this study, a 16-day-old neonate was diagnosed with serogroup B meningococcal sepsis and meningitis. The baby was treated with antibiotics at the early stages of the infection and was discharged in good condition without any complications. This case report can serve to raise awareness of the incidence and importance of meningococcal infection in neonates, especially serogroup B.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2006

Purpose : We investigated the causative organisms of bacterial meningitis by age distribution from 1996 to 2005. Methods : Retrospective data were obtained from the medical records with diagnosis of bacterial meningitis or neonatal meningitis from 1996 through 2005. A case was defined by isolation of organism or detection of its antigen by latex agglutination from cerebrospinal fluid. Results : A total of 46 cases(27 neonates and 19 children) were identified. 15 of 27 episodes(55.6%) of neonatal meningitis had a concomitant-positive blood culture. Group B streptococci were the most common bacterial causes of neonatal meningitis(44.4%). Nine of 12 episodes(75.0%) were late-onset infections in neonatal meningitis caused by group B streptococci. 16 of 19 children(84.2%) with bacterial meningitis beyond the neonatal period were younger than 5 years of age(median age, 23 months). Of 19 cases, 8 infections were with Streptococcus pneumoniae, 8 were with Haemophilus influenzae and 3 were with Neisseria meningitidis. Since 2001 there was no case of meningococcal meningitis in this study. Conclusion : In neonates group B streptococci are the most common causative organisms of bacterial meningitis, especially late-onset infections. In infants and young children, the predominant causes of bacterial meningitis are H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae; meningitis caused by the former are likely to decrease after the introduction of the conjugate vaccine for H. influenzae type b.