Improving the outcome of tuberculous meningitis in childhood.
Two groups of 28 children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and hydrocephalus were matched for age and stage of the disease and treated with appropriate antituberculosis therapy. The patients in one group were subjected to ventriculoperitoneal or lumboperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures. The results of treatment were assessed in both groups. The outcome in the group of patients subjected to shunting was clearly superior to that in the group in which shunting was not carried out. The hydrocephalus associated with TBM is associated with a significant mortality and morbidity if the obstruction to cerebrospinal fluid flow is not relieved.
D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000601:surgery; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*