Plague meningitis. A report of three cases in children and review of the problem.

Abstract

Three cases of acute Pasteurella pestis meningitis occurred in a plague outbreak in New Mexico in 1965. Acute plague meningitis has occasionally been seen in other areas of the world. This entity almost invariably develops as a secondary complication of bubonic plague, and a critical review of the literature raises serious question about the existence of primary meningitis due to P. pestis. Treatment of these three cases and experience with plague therapy are discussed. Early recognition of plague infection, including its more unusual complications (such as meningitis), is essential for appropriate treatment and cure.