par Linz, Roger 
;Lecocq, E.;Custermans, Lisette
Référence Archives belges de médecine sociale, hygiène, médecine du travail et médecine légale, 31, 9-10, page (569-587)
Publication Publié, 1973
;Lecocq, E.;Custermans, Lisette Référence Archives belges de médecine sociale, hygiène, médecine du travail et médecine légale, 31, 9-10, page (569-587)
Publication Publié, 1973
Article révisé par les pairs
| Résumé : | Sixty patients with bacteriologically proved acute meningococcal disease form the subject of this study together with several members of their families. Bacteriological and serological findings, pathological antecedents and context, nutrition, housing, socio economic and professional situation, health care and nationality were taken into consideration. The purpose was to define the factors that allowed N. meningitidis to invade the whole organism of the patients. Among the patients, 59 were children; many were foreigners. Recent infections (especially viral) or vaccinations, and adverse social circumstances were fairly frequent. However, the living conditions of several patients could be termed good or even very good. The general health of some patients was deficient. The high frequency of multiple cases in a family and of the carriage of N. meningitidis in relatives, lead to the suspicion of a sensitizing family agent, that could be hereditary or related to local and time circumstances. Also, the high frequency of the disease in foreigners living in Belgium cannot always be explained by adverse social circumstances. The presence of serum agglutinins does not suffice to protect individuals from the acute illness. Associated with factors considered to favour acute meningococcal disease, are often found situations thought to prevent its development. The sensitivity to N. meningitidis of the patients would seem to be due to a sum of factors, some internal, some external, none of which probably would be sufficient by itself. |
