Recurrent meningococcal meningitis with complement 6 (C6) deficiency: A case report

Fatal case of meningococcal meningitis in a child from rural Bhutan: A case report

N meningiditis remains an important cause of central nervous system infection. A high index of suspicion is required especially in infants. While empirical antibiotics may be initiated, diagnostic measures must be adopted for guided therapy. Notification of such cases contributes to surveillance data and deciding on providing vaccines to the population.

The first case report of complement component 7 deficiency in Qatar and a 10-year follow-up

Introduction

Neisseria meningitidis is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis and septicemia worldwide. Recurrent Neisseria meningitidis is frequently associated with terminal complement protein deficiency, including Complement component 7. This report discusses the first case of C7 deficiency in Qatar.

Case report

A 30-year-old Qatari man presented with a meningococcal infection, which was verified by a blood culture. He experienced two episodes of meningitis caused by an undetermined organism. His blood tests revealed low levels of CH50 and C7. His C7 gene testing revealed a homozygous mutation in exon 10 (c.1135G>C p.Gly379Arg), a mutation that has not been previously documented in Qatar. However, it has been observed in 1% of Moroccan-origin Israeli Jews who also exhibit C7 deficiency. Regular prophylactic quadrivalent vaccinations against types A, C, Y, and W-135 with azithromycin tabs were administered. Over the last 10 years of follow-up, he remained in good health, with no further meningitis episodes.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of C7 deficiency reported in the Arabian Gulf countries. Such rare diseases should be a public health priority. Awareness among medical practitioners and the community should help with early detection of C7 deficiency and the prevention of its consequences.

A Retrospective Study of Recurrent Bacterial Meningitis in Children: Etiology, Clinical Course, and Treatment

Objectives

Recurrent bacterial meningitis (RBM) is a rare but life-threatening disease. This study aims to analyze the clinical features, potential causes, and therapeutic outcomes of RBM in children.

Methods

This article retrospectively reviews the clinical characteristics, etiologies, and treatments in children with RBM hospitalized in Hebei children's hospital from 2012 to 2020.

Results

A total of 10 children with RBM, five males and five females, were included in this study. The age of RBM in children spans from the neonatal stage to the childhood stage. The underlying illnesses were identified and classified as cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (1 case), humoral immunodeficiency with Mondini dysplasia (1 case), common cavity deformity with cerebrospinal fluid ear leakage (1 case), Mondini malformations (2 cases), incomplete cochlear separation type I with a vestibular enlargement (2 cases), local inflammation of the sphenoid bone caused by cellulitis (1 case), congenital skull base defects (1 case), and congenital dermal sinus with intraspinal abscess (1 case). 6 patients chose targeted therapy for potential reasons.

Conclusions

Congenital abnormalities or acquired injuries lead to intracranial communication with the outside world, which can quickly become a portal for bacterial invasion of the central nervous system, resulting in repeated infections.