[Etiological features and abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings in 101 patients with suspected intracranial...

101 patients (44 males, 57 females) with suspected intracranial infections were admitted to PUMC Hospital from 1988 to 1993. Their age ranged from 16 to 65 years (mean 29). Based on etiological categories, viral meningitis or encephalitis was diagnosed in 37.6% of the patients, purulent meningitis in 20.8%, tuberculous meningitis in 19.8%, cryptococcal meningitis in 5.9%, cerebral cysticercosis in 5.9%, infections of unknown etiology in 5.0%, and noninfectious diseases in 4.0%. During hospitalization, the mortality rate for cryptococcal, tuberculous and purulent meningitis was 33.3%, 20.0% and 14.3% respectively. This study also showed that cerebrospinal fluid examination was helpful for etiological analysis or differential diagnosis of intracranial infections.