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Bacterial meningitis or cobalamin deficiency: A diagnostic conundrum
Anchal K Tripathi1, Keerti Swarnkar1, Shikha Malik1
1Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
|September 19, 2022
Summary
Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in Indian children and can mimic meningitis symptoms. This case highlights the importance of considering nutritional deficiencies in diagnosing central nervous system infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Background:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency affects a significant portion of children in India.
- Meningitis is a leading cause of mortality in Indian children.
Observation:
- A child presented with symptoms mimicking meningitis, including meningeal signs and altered sensorium.
- The patient's clinical presentation was initially attributed to a central nervous system infection.
Findings:
- The child was eventually diagnosed with cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency.
- This case represents the first documented instance of cobalamin deficiency presenting with features suggestive of meningitis.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for vitamin B12 deficiency to cause neurological symptoms that can be misdiagnosed as infections.
- Emphasizes the need for considering nutritional assessments in pediatric patients with central nervous system symptoms, especially in regions with high rates of deficiency.
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