Tuberculous meningitis of severe expression in pediatrics

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health problem. The true magnitude of this epidemic is underestimated due to difficulties in diagnosing children and poor reporting. The diagnosis of childhood TB represents a challenge, since in children the infection usually proceeds with nonspecific clinical manifestations and is often asymptomatic, which delays the diagnosis, leading this age group to a high risk of disseminated infection. We then describe the case of a preschool child with meningeal tuberculosis (TM), with subacute clinical presentation of fever, progressive sensory disorder and signs of intracranial hypertension. The epidemiological history allowed the diagnosis and initiation of antituberculosis therapy to be guided. The clinical course of the patient was torpid, developed very serious complications, with a fatal outcome.