Table 4.

Comparison of the presenting clinical variables independently predictive of tuberculous meningitis in four published studies

Study	Kumar et al, 199923	Youssef et al, 200624	Thwaites et al, 200225	Moghtaderi et al, 200926
Setting	India	Egypt	Vietnam	Iran
Age group	Children (1month – 12years)	Children and adults (5months –56years)	Adults (16–70 years)	Older children and adults(9–80 years)
Variables predictive of tuberculous meningitis	History of illness >6 days CSF lymphocytes> 5 days>50% total whitecells Optic atrophy Abnormal movements Focal neurologicaldeficit	History of illness CSF lymphocytes> 30% total white cells CSF white cell count <1000× 103/ml Clear CSFCSF protein >100mg/dL	History of illness ≥6 daysCSF lymphocytes> 10%CSF white cell count<750 × 103/mlAge < 36 years Blood white cellcount <15,000 /ml	History of illness >5daysCSF lymphocytes >70% total white cells CSF white cellcount %1000× 103/ml Age >30 years