title: [Postmeningitic pericerebral effusion in infants].
abstract: Agar-gel electrophoresis of the pericerebral fluid and more recent data obtained from CT-Scan examination suggest the presumably important role of external subarachnoid hydrocephalus in postmeningitic pericerebral effusions of infancy. Postmeningitic subarachnoid hydrocephalus results very likely from an impeded resorption at the level of the arachnoid villi and venous sinuses; in some cases, however, there could be a coincidental occurrence of meningitis and pericerebral effusion from a distinct origin. The presence of a pericerebral effusion correlates badly with the seriousness of the clinical condition, whilst its spontaneous tendency to resorption is obvious in many cases, leading to a more conservative attitude. Fontanometry seems helpful when discussing the indication to operate. If surgery is required, it will usually be limited to a minor procedure; we perform, in such cases, an external drainage that can be transformed, if necessary, into an internal shunt.
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Les épanchements péricérébraux postméningitiques du nourrisson.