An acute purulent infection of the meninges and subarachnoid space caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, most prevalent in children and adults over the age of 60. This illness may be associated with otitis media; mastoiditis; sinusitis; respiratory tract infections; sickle cell disease (anemia, sickle cell); skull fractures; and other disorders. Clinical manifestations include fever; headache; neck stiffness; and somnolence followed by seizures; focal neurologic deficits (notably deafness); and coma. (From Miller et al., Merritt's Textbook of Neurology, 9th ed, p111)
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