title: Some important pitfalls in the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis in children.
abstract: Some of the common errors and problems of the physician who cares for the child with bacterial meningitis are: 1) misdiagnosis; 2) inappropriate handling of cerebrospinal fluid; 3) inadequate assessment of therapeutic responses; 4) inappropriate drug therapy; 5) improper treatment of seizures; 6) inadequate care of increased intracranial pressure; 7) inappropriate evaluation of persistent fever; 8) inappropriate fluid therapy; 9) inadequate investigation of persistent  neurologic deficit; 10) overvigorous treatment of subdural effusion; 11) inadequate assessment of neurologic or psychologic impairment; and 12) inadequate consideration of possible underlying defects.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005334:Fever; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000517:prevention & control; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007360:Intelligence; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D003975:Diazepam