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Oxidative stress in children with bacterial meningitis

Ragni Srivastava1, Rajeev Lohokare, Rajniti Prasad

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|February 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative stress is significant in pediatric bacterial meningitis. This study found increased oxidants and depleted antioxidants in affected children, suggesting a role in disease development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of illness and death in children.
  • The role of oxidative stress in pediatric bacterial meningitis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the levels of oxidants and antioxidants in children with bacterial meningitis.
  • To determine the association between oxidative stress markers and the disease.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 40 children diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
  • Measured serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, nitrite, ascorbic acid, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase.

Main Results:

  • Significantly elevated levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and nitrite were observed in patients.
  • Significantly decreased levels of ascorbic acid, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase were found in children with meningitis.
  • These findings indicate increased oxidative stress and antioxidant depletion.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated oxidant markers suggest increased reactive oxygen species production in bacterial meningitis.
  • Depleted antioxidant markers indicate their utilization in combating the disease process.
  • Oxidative stress likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of pediatric bacterial meningitis.

Keywords:
antioxidantsbacterialmeningitisoxidants

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