Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Seizures complicating infantile and childhood bacterial meningitis

Chin-Jung Chang1, Hsueh-Wen Chang, Wen-Neng Chang

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chia-Yi, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Pediatric Neurology
|September 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial meningitis in young children frequently causes seizures, impacting long-term outcomes. Early detection of seizures and associated factors like abnormal neuroimaging are crucial for better patient prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection in infants and children.
  • Seizures are a common complication of bacterial meningitis.
  • Understanding the impact of seizures on long-term outcomes is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and characteristics of seizures in children with bacterial meningitis.
  • To explore the correlation between seizures and neuroimaging findings.
  • To assess the long-term outcomes of children experiencing seizures during acute bacterial meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 116 pediatric patients with culture-proven bacterial meningitis.
  • Comparison of clinical data between patients with and without seizures.
  • Analysis of neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and long-term follow-up data.

Main Results:

  • Seizures occurred in 47% of patients during acute bacterial meningitis.
  • Abnormal neuroimaging findings strongly correlated with seizure occurrence.
  • Patients with seizures during acute illness had significantly poorer long-term outcomes.
  • Late seizures only occurred in children who had acute seizures.

Conclusions:

  • Seizures are a significant complication of pediatric bacterial meningitis with implications for long-term neurological outcomes.
  • Neuroimaging abnormalities and CSF alterations are associated with seizures.
  • Prompt recognition and management of seizures in bacterial meningitis are essential for improving patient prognosis.

More Related Videos

Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice09:29

Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice

Published on: June 11, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...