[Clinical course, treatment and outcome of tuberculous meningitis in children]

Abstract

Data are given on the follow-up of 108 children between the ages of 6 months and 15 years who had tuberculous meningitis. A basilar form of meningitis was diagnosed in 70.4% of the children and meningo-encephalitic form in 29.6%. In most of the children meningitis developed in the presence of specific changes in the lungs; the course was typical in 74.1% and acute in 25.9%. Superinfection was seen in 64% of the children, late diagnosis and untimely hospitalization of children were noted in 31.5%. A clear relationship was revealed between disappearance of clinical signs and liquor cleansing and hospitalization terms. Treatment currently applied is effective. Cure was seen in 86.1% of the cases in the presence of significant residual changes (in meningoencephalitis) in 13.9%. The disease had a fatal outcome in 13.9% of the cases of late diagnosis.