Table 2.
Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Children <5 Years With Suspected PBM at the UTH Children’s Hospital, 2010–2019
| Characteristics | Suspected Cases | Probable Cases | Confirmed Cases | Haemophilus influenzae | Streptococcus pneumoniae | Neisseria meningitidis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in Months | ||||||
| 0 < 12 months | 2852 | 424 (15%) | 140 (33%) | 22 (16%) | 101 (72%) | 17 (12%) |
| 12 to < 24 months | 307 | 54 (18%) | 19 (35%) | 2 (11%) | 14 (74%) | 3 (16%) |
| 24–59 months | 652 | 120 (18%) | 62 (52%) | 7 (11%) | 33 (53%) | 22 (36%) |
| Total | 3811 | 598 (16%) | 221 (37%) | 31 (14%) | 148 (67%) | 42 (19%) |
| Gender | ||||||
| F | 1737 | 281 (16%) | 113 (40%) | 17(15%) | 76 (67%) | 20 (18%) |
| M | 2074 | 317 (15%) | 108 (34%) | 14 (13%) | 72 (67%) | 22 (20%) |
| Total | 3811 | 598 (16%) | 221 (37%) | 31 (14%) | 148 (67%) | 42 (19%) |
| Presence of seizure | 1116 | 130 (12%) | 62 (48%) | 13 (21%) | 41 (66%) | 8 (13%) |
| Altered consciousness | 457 | 69 (15%) | 41 (59%) | 5 (12%) | 30 (73%) | 6 (15%) |
| Dehydration | 386 | 69 (18%) | 20 (29%) | 1 (5%) | 18 (90%) | 1 (5%) |
| Bulging fontanel | 388 | 60 (16%) | 25 (42%) | 6 (24%) | 15 (60%) | 4 (16%) |
| Neck stiffness | 269 | 41 (15%) | 25 (61%) | 7 (28%) | 8 (32%) | 10 (40%) |
| Lethargy | 38 | 1 (3%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Meningitis rash | 5 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| High respiratory rate | 678 | 134 (20%) | 51 (38%) | 2 (4%) | 37 (73%) | 12 (24%) |
| Difficulty breathing | 448 | 60 (13%) | 28 (47%) | 2 (7%) | 21 (75%) | 5 (18%) |
| Cough | 421 | 73 (17%) | 32 (44%) | 4 (13%) | 21 (66%) | 7 (22%) |
| Chest in-drawing | 53 | 6 (11%) | 1 (17%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (100%) |
| Stridor | 17 | 2 (12%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
Abbreviations: PBM, pediatric bacterial meningitis; UTH, University Teaching Hospital.
NOTES: Meningitis rash: reddish pinprick lesions that progress to widespread petechial eruptions due to bleeding under the skin. High respiratory rate: 50 breaths/minute for infants and neonates, 40 breaths/minute for children aged 12–35 months, and 30 breaths/minute for children aged 36–60 months.