This page has moved. Click here to view. Bacterial Meningitis Bacterial meningitis affects 1 in 500 children younger than 2 years. Meningitis most commonly presents with subtle signs and symptoms that may easily be mistaken for a benign childhood illness. Etiology of Bacterial Meningitis Neonatal Meningitis .
Prematurity is the greatest risk factor for infection in neonates.
In infants, Haemophilus influenzae is the most common bacterium causing meningitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the second most common cause of meningitis in Neisseria meningitidis has the highest attack rate in children younger than 2 years. Most often the infant is feverish, lethargic, and has Childhood . The frequency of meningitis decreases markedly in children older than 2 years, and it remains at a relatively constant level until adulthood. In the newborn, signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis are often very similar to those of sepsis or other serious illnesses.