Meningitis in children: Diagnosis and treatment for the emergency clinician

This article provides a review of the evaluation and management of meningitis in young children. It highlights the most common causes of meningitis and the most current treatment recommendations. Since the development of the hemophilus and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, pediatric bacterial meningitis has been diagnosed less frequently. Viral meningitis is far more common and tends to be a less severe disease. It is very important to maintain a high index of suspicion and a low threshold for evaluation of meningitis in febrile young infants younger than 3 months.