Treatment of meningococcic meningitis in children with a single intravenous dose of sodium sulfadiazine: Report of nine cases

Abstract

Summary 1. Nine patients reported here have been treated with a single dose of sodium sulfadiazine intravenously with complete recovery. 2. The single large intravenous dose of sulfadiazine will maintain a sulfa level in the spinal fluid and blood adequately long for rapid recovery. 3. With the present method of treatment there is every indication that the present quarantine period of meningococcic meningitis is unnecessarily too long. 4. It is possible that less than 2 grains per pound of body weight will be adequate to give the same result. Further studies will be necessary to determine the minimum single dose of sulfadiazine sufficient for rapid recovery. 5. High sulfadiazine levels are shown to be well-tolerated if adequate alkalinization of the urine is maintained. Gilligan, and associates 12 and Flippin, Schwartz, and Domm 13 have previously proved the advantages of adjuvant alkali therapy. 6. Spinal fluid cultures were sterile twenty-four hours after a single large intravenous dose of sodium sulfadiazine, thereby lessening the chance for complications and sequelae.