title: Predicting factors and prevalence of meningitis in patients with first seizure and fever aged 6 to 18 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate predicting factors and prevalence of meningitis in patients with first seizure and fever aged 6-18 months old.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was performed on 800 patients aged 6-18 months old who had first attack of seizure with fever between March 2005 and March 2012 in the pediatric ward of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 800 patients, lumbar puncture (LP) was performed in 453 (56.6%) patients, of whom 80 cases had meningitis (17.6% of LP patients). Postictal drowsiness (p=0.003), neurologic deficit (p=0.000), and body temperature >/=38.5&#730;C (p=0.035) were among the clinical signs, which were statistically significant predicting factors for meningitis. Laboratory tests including white blood count (WBC) >/=15000 mm3 (p=0.004), and hemoglobin (Hb) <10.5 gr/dl (p=0.020) also had statistical significance in predicting meningitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postictal drowsiness, neurological deficit, body temperature >/=38.5&#730;C, WBC >/=15000 mm3, and Hb <10.5 gr/dl were clinical and laboratory factors predictive of meningitis in cases with first attack of seizure and fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ghaem Hospital, Ahmad Abad Street, Mashhad, Iran. Tel. +98 (511) 8012469. Fax. +98 (511) 8417451. E-mail: heydarianf@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heydarian
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ashrafzadeh
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rostazadeh
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D001831:Body Temperature; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages; D063189:Symptom Assessment
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins