An infant with Xpert® confirmed TB meningitis in central Viet Nam

Abstract

A 5-month-old boy presented with a focal seizure. Disseminated (miliary) tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed on chest radiograph and TB meningitis was confirmed using Xpert MTB/RIF®. The case represents the first instance of cerebrospinal fluid Xpert MTB/RIF® testing in children in central Viet Nam. Family screening diagnosed the father with sputum smear-positive TB. The mother and a 2-year-old sibling had no symptoms or signs of TB disease and started preventive therapy. Early TB meningitis diagnosis is the single most important factor influencing clinical outcome, but is difficult due to the non-specific signs and symptoms at disease onset. Late diagnosis is associated with high mortality and severe neurologic handicap, which emphasizes the value of TB preventive therapy in vulnerable young children in close contact with an infectious TB case (recent is generally defined as within the last 12 months).