[Comparison of clinical features of purulent meningitis between small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-for-gestational-age infants].
OBJECTIVE
To study the differences in the clinical features of purulent meningitis (PM) between small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants.


METHODS
The clinical data of 58 full-term infants with PM were analyzed retrospectively. The infants were classified into a SGA group (13 cases) and an AGA group (45 cases) according to their birth weight and gestational age. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and outcomes were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The incidence of decreased muscle tone in the SGA group was significantly higher than that in the AGA group (P<0.05); the positive rate in the Pandy's test for cerebrospinal fluid in the SGA group was significantly higher than that in the SGA group (P<0.05). Brain imaging examination showed that the incidence of brain injuries in the SGA group was significantly higher than that in the AGA group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SGA infants with PM display a higher risk of brain injury, suggesting a poorer outcome, compared with AGA infants.
Department of Neonatology, Soochow University Affiliated Chidren's Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, China. wm1971@sina.com.
Ming-Ming
MM
Zhang
Yi-Ping
YP
Li
Sheng-Lin
SL
Yu
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013492:Suppuration