Tuberculous meningitis in children and adults: A 10-year retrospective comparative analysis

Abstract

Background Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most lethal form of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which has a high rate of neurological complications and sequelae. Objectives Our study offers a real-world infectious disease clinic perspective, being thus representative for the clinical environment of developing countries. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of the 127 adult and 77 pediatric cases diagnosed with TBM in the Infectious Disease Hospital of the School of Medicine of Iasi, Romania between 2004-2013. Results Definite diagnosis of TBM was established in 31% of children but in only 20% of adults (p = 0.043). A contact with an individual with pulmonary tuberculosis was documented in 30%of children vs. 13%of adults (p = 0.0007). Coma occurred in 19%of patients (similar in children and adults); other consciousness abnormalities were seen in 27%of children and in 72%of adults (p = 0.000001). Cranial nerve palsies occurred prior to therapy in 9% of cases (12%vs 7% of children and adults, respectively, p>0.05), and developed 2-7 days after treatment initiation in 10%(12 vs 9%). CSF cultures were positive forM. tuberculosis in 24%of patients (31%vs. 20%, p>0.05). Overall mortality was 7.35%, similar for children and adults. Yet, permanent neurological sequelae, which were seen in 23%of patients occurred significantly more frequent in children vs. adults (36%vs. 14%, respectively, p = 0.0121). In conclusion, our retrospective analysis on a significant number of cases of TBM identified striking differences between children and adults: while children were in an earlier stage at the admission, they associated a higher frequency of neurological sequelae and miliary pattern, and they were more likely to have normal CSF protein levels and positive cultures of CSF.