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Risk Factors for Acute Symptomatic Seizure in Bacterial Meningitis in Children

Ana Rosa Melo Corrêa-Lima1, Demócrito de Barros Miranda-Filho2, Marcelo Moraes Valença3

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil anarosamclima@hotmail.com.

Journal of Child Neurology
|November 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

In children with bacterial meningitis, seizures are predicted by younger age, pneumococcal cause, altered mental status, and low cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts. In-hospital seizures significantly increase mortality risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection in children.
  • In-hospital seizures are a known complication.
  • Predictors of seizures in this population require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify clinical and laboratory predictors of in-hospital seizures in children with acute bacterial meningitis.
  • To assess the association between admission parameters and seizure occurrence.
  • To evaluate the impact of seizures on mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case-control study.
  • Involved 270 children (1 month to 14 years) with confirmed bacterial meningitis.
  • Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors.

Main Results:

  • Younger age (<2 years), pneumococcal etiology, altered mental status, and cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count <1000 cells were independent predictors of in-hospital seizures.
  • The incidence of in-hospital seizures was 24.8% (67/270).
  • Mortality was significantly higher in children with seizures (37.3%) compared to those without (4.43%).

Conclusions:

  • Clinical and laboratory findings at admission can predict in-hospital seizures in pediatric bacterial meningitis.
  • Pneumococcal meningitis and altered mental status are significant risk factors.
  • Prompt recognition and management of these risk factors may be crucial for improving outcomes and reducing mortality.

Keywords:
bacterial meningitiscase-controlchildhoodepileptic seizuresrisk factors

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