[Treatment of bacterial meningitis in children].

The treatment of children with bacterial meningitis includes many aspects, such as fluid and antibacterial therapy, treatment of convulsions, and prophylactic use of dexamethasone. This report focuses in particular on the prophylactic use of dexamethasone together with cefalosporines in order to reduce inflammation and neurological sequelae in this disease. Probably this approach is now justified in the treatment of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Modern principles for fluid therapy and treatment of increased intracranial pressure are also discussed.