Abstract

PROMPT COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IN CHILDREN (FROM BIRTH TO 5YEARS)

Dr. Qahtan Hameed Ibrahim* and Dr. Azeez Abed Bihaadh Alyakoobi

ABSTRACT

Background: To estimate frequency of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in early childhood in hospital admissions, to describe clinical and diagnostic features, and to analyze mortality, complications and long term sequelae. Aim of study: (1) Early detection of possible post-meningitis complication. (2) To find the prognostic factors of those complication. Patient and Method: Among sixty two patients selected, fifty seven patients enrolled in study after they met inclusion criteria, they are aged 1 month to 5 years, admitted to infectious department at hospital of pediatrics in Baghdad/Iraq with acute bacterial meningitis, followed up after discharge over a 12 month period. Data were collected from the infectious follow up clinic in our center, Various data collected from history, examination, and investigation results for comparison to show the risk factors associated with developing complications. Results: Among fifty seven cases enrolled in the study, Benign course patients (patients who developed no sequelae after meningitis) were 30 in number, complicated course patients were 27 in number, Prognostic factors found to be significantly related to the outcome in this study. These factors include:young age group (below 12 months), prolonged seizure at presentation more than 72hours, various CSF parameters (CSF neutrophil predominance pleocytosis, high CSF protein more than 50mg/dl, low CSF glucose below than 40mg/dl, CSF culture positive results), a variety of serum laboratory findings (positive C-reactive protein more than 12, leukopenia below 4000), and Streptococcus pneumoniae in blood culture is considered important in predicting complications.

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