Behaviour is not really at risk after surviving meningitis in childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To examine behaviour problems, personality, self-perceived competence and academic deficits in children who had recovered from non-Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacterial meningitis (BM) without obvious medical sequelae.


METHODS
Assessments in 182 children, mean age 10 (range 5-14) years, 4-10 years after surviving meningitis, were compared to scores of norm reference groups.


RESULTS
More children were estimated to have academic deficits (27%) than behaviour problems as perceived by the parents (9%). The mean deviation from normal was absent to moderate on behaviour problems, personality variables and self-perceived competence.


CONCLUSIONS
Children who survived non-Hib BM without severe medical sequelae hardly differ from normal children with respect to personality and self-perceived competence. A small proportion deviates from normal in behaviour problems.
Ritchi
Lieneke
L
Sector of Neuropsychology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Jennekens-Schinkel
Aag
A
van Schooneveld
Monique
M
Koomen
Irene
I
Geenen
Rinie
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*