Ocular manifestations of tubercular meningitis: a clinico-biochemical study

Forty-eight children with tubercular meningitis were observed and followed up for development of ocular sequelae over a period of four months. Commonest ocular abnormality encountered in this condition was optic disc change (62%) of which papillitis was the most frequent. The incidence of pupillary change and cranial nerve paralysis was seen to be 48% and 28% respectively. Anisocoria and mydriasis were commonly observed pupillary changes. The third cranial nerve was the most frequent nerve involved in this condition. It was observed that patients who had high CSF protein content (greater than 75 mg%) showed more chances of development of primary optic atrophy (P value 0.001). Choroidal tubercle and papilledema were found to be signs of grave prognostic significance.