Prognostic factors in childhood tuberculous meningitis

The risk factors affecting the outcome in 50 children with tuberculous meningitis were evaluated over a period of 20 months. Five children (10 per cent) had stage 1 disease, 29 (58 per cent) had stage II disease, and 16 (32 per cent) had stage III disease at admission. Seventeen cases (34 per cent) showed complete recovery, five (10 per cent) had mild, 14 (28 per cent) had moderate, and nine (18 per cent) had severe neurological sequelae. Five children (10 per cent) died. Younger age, tonic posturing, papilloedema, focal neurological deficit and stage at presentation were found to affect adversely the prognosis independently in children with tuberculous meningitis.