Meningitis due to alpha hemolytic streptococcus; recovery in a newborn infant following chemotherapy.

Abstract

In 1948, Hoyne and Brown, summarizing the literature, found only 74 reported cases of meningitis of all types occurring in infants under 2 weeks of age. 1 In this series there were 2 cases of meningitis due to alpha hemolytic streptococcus with 1 survival. The purpose of this paper is to report a third case of alpha hemolytic streptococcus meningitis in a newborn infant with recovery. REPORT OF A CASE R. A. S., a 9 day old infant boy, was admitted to Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, with the complaints of fever, listlessness and anorexia. Listlessness had been present for twenty-four hours, while the fever and anorexia began the day of his admission. Physical examination revealed an irritable infant. His temperature was 103 F.; his weight was 6 pounds 6 ounces (2,892 Gm.). The skin showed generalized flushing. Anterior and posterior fontanels were open without tenseness. The left tympanic membrane was