Tuberculous Meningitis in Childhood.

Abstract

Summary:  Seventy-two cases of tuberculous meningitis in children were studied and 63% of these were aged 3 years and below. The major presenting symptoms of fever, weight loss, anorexia and repeated convulsions were similar to those in other series. Cough was also prominent and indicated associ ated pulmonary tuberculosis which was present in 78%. A majority (64%) of the children had various degices of CNS depression at presentation and this, in addition to malnutrition in 93% of the cases, and delay in presentation, adversely affected mortality which was 50% in the series. Those who died had lower mean CSF cell counts, higher mean protein level and lower mean glucose level than the survivors. Steroid therapy was associated with a lower mortality rate. In order to reduce the mortality and morbidity, particularly in areas where facilities for rehabilitating those who survive with sequelae are inadequate, early diagnosis, based on a high index of suspicion, and prompt treatment of those at highest risk with the newer and more potent anti-tuberculous drugs, are recommended.