The changing profile of pediatric meningitis at a referral centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: Pediatric meningitis remains a common cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Knowledge of the causative organisms in a region is of importance in guiding empiric antibiotic regimes and immunization schedules assisting decisions on primary health-care interventions.

Methods: This retrospective review of 557 meningitis cases represents a third pediatric survey conducted over a 3-year period (January 2007 to December 2009) at the same institution and after an interval of 14 years.

Pediatric and adolescent imported malaria in Cape Town.

We reviewed 42 cases of pediatric and adolescent imported malaria in Cape Town. Patients were predominantly new and returned immigrants from other African countries. Rapid diagnosis occurred in most cases.