Meningitis in children: Analysis of 92 cases

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate cases ofmeningitis for epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory findingsand the treatment response.Materials and methods: We evaluated ninety two patientswhose diagnosis were meningitis retrospectivelybetween January 2010 and December 2011, for age, gender,presenting symptoms, physical examination, laboratoryfindings and treatments. The patients who were hospitalizedwith central nervous system infection were diagnosedas meningitis by examination of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) under a microscope and evaluation of biochemical(glucose, protein, chloride) results and / or culture.Results: Fifty patients were male and 42 were female,mean age was 4.2 ± 4.1 years. The most common symptomswere fever (91.3%), vomiting (87.0%), headache(68.5%), and convulsion (20.7%). On physical examinationin descending order neck stiffness (60.9%), Brudzinskiphenomenon (50%), Kernig sign (46.7%), alteredconsciousness (16.3%) and rash (2.2%) were detected.When patients were classified in terms of clinical andlaboratory findings; bacterial meningitis was determined53.4%, aseptic in 38% and tuberculous meningitis in7,6%. CSF and blood culture were positive in 13 of andseven of the cases respectively. The most frequent complicationswere seizures, cranial nerve palsy, hydrocephalusand the syndrome of inappropriate ADH. Mortalityrate was determined as 2.2%.Conclusion: The patients especially with symptoms offever, vomiting, headache and convulsions, meningitisshould be considered primary disease.Key words: Child, meningitis, clinical signs, treatmen