Rukhshan Khurshid, Nasim Akhtar, Mubbashir A Sheikh, Farzana Tabbasum, Fauzia Tabbasum, Mohammad Waheed Akhter.
Diagnostic testing for Bacterial Meningitis in Infants.
Biomedica Jan ;15:97-9.

Prognosis of acute bacterial meningitis continues to be poor in our country. Previous studies suggest that delay in diagnosis has an important prognostic value. Study was undertaken to sec the influence of diagnosis, timing and clinical condition of infants with acute bacterial meningitis on admission. Mean age of male was 4.75 months and 6.83 months in female infants. Laboratory examination of cerebrospinal fluid includes Glucose, protein, cell cytology, protease activity and electrophoresis. It was observed that the level of protein increased in patients compared to normal infants and this shows a highly significant difference (P < 0.005). Level of sugar increased in normal infants as compared to patients but this shows no significant difference. Cell cytology shows that large number (> 100) of lymphocytes were only observed in infant whose CSF protein level is above 100 mg/dl. Total leukocyte count (TLC) in females was increased (259.75) as compared to males (142.71) but this shows no significant difference. Percentage of lymphocytes was more in male infants (44.79%) as compared to females (26.67%) with no significant difference. In some cases strains of streptococcus pneumoniae were observed. It is observed that CSF of normal infants shows a prominent protease activity as compared to infants with meningitis. Age, level of protein and Staph, pneumoniae are main factors associated with poor prognosis. Hence further research is needed to reach definite conclusion.

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