[Prognosis of bacterial meningitis].
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on the risk factors for bacterial meningitis (BM) and evaluate these factors in children diagnosed as having BM in the Paediatric Department of the University Hospital of Maracaibo between 1996 and 1998.


METHODS
We made a retrospective study of children diagnosed as having BM in the University of Maracaibo. We evaluated different factors related to BM.


RESULTS
From 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1998 a total of 152 children were diagnosed as having bacterial meningitis; 69.7% were boys and 30.3% were girls. The commonest causal germ was Haemophilus influenzae. Disorders of sensation (42.7%) and signs of meningism (32.8%) were the most frequent neurological alterations. The main laboratory findings were leucocytosis (51.3%), thrombocytosis (49.3%), pleocytosis (70.3%), cerebrospinal fluid protein (49.3%) and low cerebrospinal fluid glucose (72.8%). Twelve patients (7.5%) died. Of this group, 10 were under one year of age and had septic shock.


CONCLUSIONS
BM represents a major group of hospital admissions in everyday paediatric practice. Although the mortality has decreased, an increased risk of sequelas must be borne in mind. Clinico-neurological examination on admission and simultaneous analysis of laboratory investigations allows identification of prognostic indicators of morbidity and mortality.
Peña
J A
JA
Servicio de Neurología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo, Venezuela. jokar1@telcel.net.ve
Jiménez
L
L
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents