In order to assess the changing pattern of pediatric
neurologic disorders during this century, we retrieved and analyzed the medical records of hospitalized patients with
neurologic disorders in our hospital from 1900 to 1980. It was demonstrated that
bacterial meningitis had been by far the most common cause of death until 1950. After 1950, both the incidence and the mortality rate of
bacterial meningitis declined rapidly probably because of the improved medical care and introduction of various
antibiotics. We noticed several interesting features in the changing spectrum of
bacterial meningitis as described below. First it was demonstrated that the incidence of
tuberculous meningitis declined almost a decade later than those of other kinds of purulent
meningitis. Second, the incidence of
bacterial meningitis declined even before the introduction of
antibiotics. Although the development of
antibiotics was the main contributing factor in improving the prognosis for
bacterial meningitis, it is suggested from our data that other factors such as improved general supportive care and carrying out of public health programs also played an important role in improving the overall prognosis for
bacterial meningitis.