Table 4.
Comparison of children with acute central nervous system infections requiring admission to the pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric ward
| Characteristics | CNS infection necessitating admission to the PICU (n = 24) | CNS infection necessitating admission to the pediatric ward (n = 44) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meningitis, n (%) | 12 (50) | 39 (88.6) | 0.001 * |
| Encephalitis, n (%) | 12 (50) | 5 (11.4) | |
| Age in years, median (IQR) | 2 (0.94–3.75) | 4.5 (0.75–9.75) | 0.214; Z = -1.241 |
| Fever, n (%) | 21 (87.5) | 42 (95.4) | 0.337 β |
| Impaired consciousness, n (%) | 14 (58.3) | 6 (13.6) | < 0.001* |
| Seizure, n (%) | 15 (62.5) | 7 (15.9) | < 0.001* |
| Vomiting, n (%) | 2 (8.3) | 12 (27.2) | 0.114 β |
| Meningeal irritation sign | 1 (4.1) | 7 (15.9) | 0.244 β |
| Median WBC count/mm3 (IQR) | 13,740 (10,922–18815) | 10,350 (8270–17210) | 0.156; Z = -1.419 |
| Median NLR (IQR) | 3.7 (1.3–9.7) | 3.4(1.04–8.7) | 0.627; Z = -0.487 |
| Mean Hb (g/dl) ± SD | 10.6 ± 1.5 | 11.2 ± 2.03 | 0.191 α |
| Median Plt count (IQR) (103/µl) | 361,700 (278,750–543725) | 270,000 (219,000–375000) | 0.01*; Z = -2.589 |
| Median CRP mg/L (IQR) | 8.3 (1.1–24.7) | 34.2(1.4–104.1) | 0.06; Z = -1.868 |
| Median neutrophil percentage (IQR) | 74.5 (37.5–80.5) | 66.3(53–78.9) | 0.764; Z = -0.300 |
| Median lymphocyte percentage (IQR) | 20.6 (9.4–38.8) | 20.8 (7.8–42.3) | 0.957; Z = -0.053 |
| Median CSF protein (mg/dl) (IQR) | 30.4 (17.5–81) | 40.6 (26.3–102.1) | 0.209; Z = -1.258 |
| Median CSF glucose (mg/dl) (IQR) | 68.9 (54.1–80.5) | 63.2(53.3–74.1) | 0.243; Z = -1.168 |
| Median CSF leukocyte number/microL (IQR) | 10 (0–45) | 160 (40–980) | < 0.001*; Z = -4.266 |
| Causative agent of the CNS infection (n) |
L. monocytogenes (1) S. epidermidis (1) S. hominis (1) S. marcescens (1) |
HSV-1 (2) Enterovirus (6) E.coli (1) S. pneumoniae (3) S. viridians (1) |
WBC White blood cell, CRP C-reactive protein, Hb Hemoglobin, Plt, Platelet, CSF Cerebrospinal fluid, SD Standard deviation, PICU Pediatric intensive care unit, IQR Interquartile range (25%–75%), NLR Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, E. coli Escherichia coli, S. Pneumoniae Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. viridians Streptococcus viridians, L. monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes, S. epidermidis Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. hominis Staphylococcus hominis, S. marcescens Serratia marcescens, HSV Herpes simplex virus
*p < 0.05 statistically significant; Z, Mann–Whitney U test; β, Fisher’s exact test; α, independent samples t-test