Aaqib Javed, Safwan Ahmad, Amna Siddique.
Tuberculous Meningitis in Children at DHQ Teaching Hospital DG Khan: Clinical, Pathological and Radiological Profile with Mortality Factors.
Pak Paed J Jan ;41(2):70-4.

Objective: Purpose of this study was to see the clinical, pathological and radiological features of TBM in affected children. Study design: Prospective descriptive study. Place and duration of study: This study was conducted at Pediatric unit of DHQ teaching hospital DG Khan from 7th December 2015 to 7th February 2016. Subjects and methods: We included the children less than 12 years of age affected with tuberculosis meningitis. Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis was made on already form criteria. We recorded Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and Intracranial pressure (ICP) of the patients. Staging of disease was done according to BMC staging system. Tuberculosis was confirmed by chest X-ray, CSF examination, brain imaging studies and other additional TB tests. Data were entered and statistical analysis was done by SPSS V.22. Results: Fifty patients were included in our study, out of which 11 (22%) died. Fever was the most common symptom and Meningeal Irritation was the most common sign. 29 (58%) patients came with 3rd stage of disease. The 3rdstage disease, low GCS, and high intracranial pressure were the indicators of high mortality. Neuro-imaging or cerebrospinal fluid tests were not useful indicators of mortality. Conclusion: Tuberculous meningitis in children shows no specific clinical symptoms. The 3rd stage disease, low GCS, no BCG vaccination at the time of birth and high intracranial pressure indicate poor prognosis of TBM.

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