Skip to main content
Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1979 Feb 3;120(3):305–309.

Tuberculous meningitis in children: a retrospective study of 79 patients, with an analysis of prognostic factors.

G Delage, M Dusseault
PMCID: PMC1819003  PMID: 427668

Abstract

A study of 79 cases of tuberculous meningitis in children, with an emphasis on prognostic factors, was conducted by means of a review of hospital records and completion of a follow-up questionnaire. The survival rate was 62%. Stage 3 disease (with severe changes in the sensorium and often severe neurologic abnormalities) at the time of admission, age 3 years or less, associated miliary tuberculosis and delay in the initiation of therapy correlated significantly with poor outcome. Severe neurologic complications in the acute phase were also related to poor outcome and severe sequelae. General recommendations pertaining to treatment are made.

Full text

PDF
309

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bobrowitz I. D. Ethambutol in tuberculous meningitis. Chest. 1972 Jun;61(7):629–632. doi: 10.1378/chest.61.7.629. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Charifi D. Etude de 216 cas de méningite tuberculeuse chez l'enfant. Ann Pediatr (Paris) 1976 May 2;23(5):379–383. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. D'Oliveira J. J. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of rifampin in meningeal tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1972 Sep;106(3):432–437. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1972.106.3.432. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dikshit K. P., Singh S. Factors influencing prognosis of tuberculous meningitis. Indian Pediatr. 1976 Aug;13(8):613–618. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Escobar J. A., Belsey M. A., Dueñas A., Medina P. Mortality from tuberculous meningitis reduced by steroid therapy. Pediatrics. 1975 Dec;56(6):1050–1055. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Freiman I., Geefhuysen J. Evaluation of intrathecal therapy with streptomycin and hydrocortisone in tuberculous meningitis. J Pediatr. 1970 Jun;76(6):895–901. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(70)80372-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hockaday J. M., Smith H. M. Corticosteroids as an adjuvant to the chemotherapy of tuberculous meningitis. Tubercle. 1966 Mar;47(1):75–91. doi: 10.1016/s0041-3879(66)80052-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Idriss Z. H., Sinno A. A., Kronfol N. M. Tuberculous meningitis in childhood. Forty-three cases. Am J Dis Child. 1976 Apr;130(4):364–367. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1976.02120050022004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. LEPPER M. H., SPIES H. W. The present status of the treatment of tuberculosis of the central nervous system. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1963 Feb 28;106:106–123. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1963.tb16629.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LINCOLN E. M., HOULD F. Results of specific treatment of miliary tuberculosis in children; a follow-up study of 63 patients treated with antimicrobial agents. N Engl J Med. 1959 Jul 16;261(3):113–120. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195907162610302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LINCOLN E. M., SORDILLO V. R., DAVIES P. A. Tuberculous meningitis in children. A review of 167 untreated and 74 treated patients with special reference to early diagnosis. J Pediatr. 1960 Dec;57:807–823. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(60)80132-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. LORBER J. Long-term follow-up of 100 children who recovered from tuberculous meningitis. Pediatrics. 1961 Nov;28:778–791. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lorber J. The long-term prognosis of generalized miliary tuberculosis in children. Lancet. 1966 Dec 31;2(7479):1447–1449. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(66)90602-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. PAUL F. M. Tuberculosis in B.C.G. vaccinated children in Singapore. Arch Dis Child. 1961 Oct;36:530–536. doi: 10.1136/adc.36.189.530. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Paul F. Tuberculosis meningitis in children in the Department of Paediatrics over a ten-year period. Singapore Med J. 1967 Jun;8(2):102–110. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Rao S., Bharucha P. E., Bharucha E. P. Prognosis in tuberculous meningitis. Indian Pediatr. 1970 May;7(5):257–261. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Smith A. L. Tuberculous meningitis in childhood. Med J Aust. 1975 Jan 18;1(3):57–60. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1975.tb111231.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Steiner P., Portugaleza C. Tuberculous meningitis in children. A review of 25 cases observed between the years 1965 and 1970 at the Kings County Medical Center of Brooklyn with special reference to the problem of infection with primary drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1973 Jan;107(1):22–29. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1973.107.1.22. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Sumaya C. V., Simek M., Smith M. H., Seidemann M. F., Ferriss G. S., Rubin W. Tuberculous meningitis in children during the isoniazid era. J Pediatr. 1975 Jul;87(1):43–49. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80066-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. TODD R. M., NEVILLE J. G. THE SEQUELAE OF TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS. Arch Dis Child. 1964 Jun;39:213–225. doi: 10.1136/adc.39.205.213. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Udani P. M., Parekh U. C., Dastur D. K. Neurological and related syndromes in CNS tuberculosis. Clinical features and pathogenesis. J Neurol Sci. 1971 Nov;14(3):341–357. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(71)90222-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Visudhiphan P., Chiemchanya S. Evaluation of rifampicin in the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in children. J Pediatr. 1975 Dec;87(6 Pt 1):983–986. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80924-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. WEISS W., FLIPPIN H. F. THE CHANGING INCIDENCE AND PROGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS. Am J Med Sci. 1965 Jul;250:46–59. doi: 10.1097/00000441-196507000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Zarabi M., Sane S., Girdany B. R. The chest roentgenogram in the early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children. Am J Dis Child. 1971 May;121(5):389–392. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1971.02100160059005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

RESOURCES