title: The epidemiology and outcome of childhood tuberculous meningitis. The Pelonomi Hospital experience.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken to determine the epidemiology and outcome of tuberculous meningitis in children admitted to hospital in Bloemfontein, OFS. Over a 5-year period 75 patients were studied, and 78% of them were less than 5 years of age. The largest group of patients came from rural areas. The annual incidence in the 0-14-year-old group for the City of Bloemfontein was estimated at 3,6/100,000. Most patients were in an advanced stage of illness at the start of therapy and the mortality rate was 18%. Of those patients who survived, 26% had severe neurological sequelae. The incidence of tuberculous meningitis can be decreased by improving primary health care facilities in certain areas of the OFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schoeman
mesh_terms: D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine