title: [Tubercular meningoencephalitis: evaluation of 231 cases].
abstract: This study assessed 231 cases of tuberculous meningitis of which 62 (26.8%) had diagnostic confirmation against 169 (73.2%) with only clinical picture and laboratorial indication for this diagnosis. Fifty-five percent of the sample was male; ages ranged from one month to 68 years, 42% comprising children below four years. Clinical, demographic and liquoric characteristics were investigated and compared amongst those with likely and confirmed diagnosis. In conclusion, attention is drawn to the severity of this disease with high rates of lethality mainly within the age-range of 0-4 years, and to the possibility of misdiagnosis in the presentation of acute forms and predominance of neutrophils in the liquor.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Couto Maia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology