CLINICAL PREDICTORS OF EPIDEMIC OUTCOME IN MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION INJOS, NIGERIA

The clinical predictors of outcome in children admitted into the Emerg ency Paediatric Unit at the Jos University Teaching Hospital with meni ngococcal infection during an out-break of the disease (between Februa ry - April 1996) were studied. Eighty seven children were admitted wit h meningococcal infection during the period. There were 60 males and 2 7 females (M:F=2.2:1), aged between five weeks and 16 years (mean 7.7 +/- 4.9 years). Overall mortality was 26.4 per cent, Eighty five per c ent of the patients who presented in shock died, compared with nine pe r cent who presented without shock (p <0.000001). Similarly, 65% of th e patients who presented in coma died, compared with 12.5% who did not present in coma (p <0.000001). Other factors associated with a poor o utcome included age one year and below, petechial/purpuric rash on pre sentation and meningococcaemia. Complications were documented in 27 (3 1.0%) of the patients, consisting mainly of deafness, extensive vascul itis/ulceration of extremities, gangrene of legs hemiparesis and crani al nerve palsies.