Acta Medica Port
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Traumatic brain injury is a frequent reason for admission at pediatric emergency services. In severe cases, with basilar skull fracture, bacterial meningitis is a serious and potentially fatal complication to be considered. ⋯ Bacterial meningitis is a complication to be considered in head injury with basilar skull fracture, particularly when associated with cerebrospinal fluid leakage, even though the injury occurred several years earlier, and is usually a serious condition. One of our children died. Similar to what is described, S. pneumoniae was the most common bacteria, and this fact supports that children with head trauma and cerebrospinal fluid leakage should receive pneumococcal vaccine. The follow-up of these children requires constant vigilance and should include a multidisciplinary approach.