Aseptic meningitis among children in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and the morbidity caused by aseptic meningitis in children in Kuwait.


METHODS
A multicenter retrospective study of previously healthy children hospitalized with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis in the period 2001-2003 was carried out.


RESULTS
There were 172 children with the diagnosis of meningitis based on changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. Aseptic meningitis was diagnosed in 86 (50%) of the cases; their mean age was 3.2 +/- 3.8 years. There were two peaks of cases, one during the months of May and June and the other in November/December. Older children (>or=5 years) presented more frequently with signs and symptoms suggestive of meningeal irritation than younger children (<5 years) (p <or= 0.01). The median duration of hospitalization was 7 days. The majority (n = 56, 65%) received a 7- to 10-day course of antibiotics despite negative cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Six (7%) hospitalized children had complications: 3 had convulsions, 2 were ventilated, and 1 had motor palsy. Intensive care unit admission was necessary in 3. All the children were discharged home without sequelae. There were no mortalities in the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
Aseptic meningitis among children in Kuwait is a major cause of morbidity and requires prolonged hospitalization. The complication rate is low and there were no sequelae or mortality among the studied cohort.
Husain
Entesar H
EH
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait. entesar@qualitynet.net
Bahbahani
Esmaeel
E
Al-Shawaf
Faisal
F
El-Nabi
Mamdooh Hasab
MH
Shafiq
Majdi Hilmi
MH
Al-Ateeqi
Nahid
N
Talib
Atef Abo
AA
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents