title: Ultrasound evaluation of brain infections and its complications in Nigerian infants.
abstract: Infantile meningitis is a clinical diagnosis. However, suspicion of its complications may warrant further investigations; and transfrontanelle ultrasound is a reliable and cheap way to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography in diagnosing the complications of infantile meningitis. This is a retrospective study of the transfrontanelle ultrasound findings in 40 infants presenting with clinical indicators of complicated acute bacterial meningitis. There were 20 boys and 20 girls aged 5-115 days (mean, 42.6+/-30.1 days). The complications of meningitis detectable on ultrasound were: hydrocephalus (21[52.5%]); cerebral abscess (2[5%]); subdural empyema (2 [5%]); and ventriculitis (3[7.5%]). Twelve babies (30%) had no abnormal findings. Hydrocephalus is the most common complication of meningitis in our setting. Transfontanelle ultrasound proved to be very reliable in the initial diagnosis and follow-up of complicated meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara, Ilorin, Nigeria. donald_a_nzeh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nzeh
authors.forename: Olalekan Ibukun
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Oyinloye
authors.forename: Olugbenga Timothy
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Odebode
authors.forename: Halimat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akande
authors.forename: Kolawole
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Braimoh
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009549:Nigeria; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography