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. 1986 Apr;96(2):231–238. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400066006

Tuberculous meningitis--clinical and laboratory review of 100 patients.

M E Kilpatrick, N I Girgis, M W Yassin, A A Abu el Ella
PMCID: PMC2129657  PMID: 3084628

Abstract

In developing countries tuberculous meningitis is a difficult infection to differentiate from other central nervous system (CNS) infections. This paper presents the history, physical findings, laboratory data, and clinical course of 100 patients who were admitted to a special ward and had CSF cultures positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fifty-four patients were comatose when admitted and 76 had meningeal signs. Mean admission CSF values were WBC 531, glucose 23 mg/dl, and protein 166 mg/dl. Only two CSF AFB smears were positive. Sixty-one percent of the chest X-rays taken were consistent with pulmonary tuberculous and 39% were normal. Twenty-four patients died within the first week after admission, before the clinical diagnosis was made and anti-tuberculous therapy could be started. Fifty-three of 76 patients given antituberculous therapy died. Neurologic sequelae developed in 48% of the survivors. The high mortality and morbidity rates in this patient-group were due to the severity of illness on admission and the predominance of children (54%).

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Selected References

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

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