title: Central nervous system tuberculosis in infants and children.
abstract: Hospital records of 16 infants and children (9 males & 7 females) with tuberculous meningitis or tuberculoma were reviewed retrospectively over a 10-year period. Patients were aged from 5 months to 16 years, with a mean age of 7.2 years. The diagnoses were confirmed via a positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 14 patients, and from brain tissue in 2. Most patients presented with fever (100%), conscious change (80%), vomiting (80%) and headaches (75%). Neurologically, meningeal and pyramidal signs were the most common findings. Lymphocytic CSF pleocytosis with hypoglycorrhachia, increased protein, and decreased CSF/serum glucose ratio were the major CSF findings in our patients. Hyponatremia was present in 70%. Brain computerized tomography showed hydrocephalus (87%), basal exudate (50%), ischemic infarction (37%) and tuberculoma (12%). Two patients (12%) expired and 10 (71%) of the surviving patients had neurological sequelae. In summary, the characteristic CSF findings and hydrocephalus (87%) seemed to be sensitive clues supporting early initiation of antituberculous drug therapy and thorough investigation as reflected in this series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shian
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology