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The effect of a recent previous visit to a physician on outcome after childhood bacterial meningitis
M J Kallio1, T Kilpi, M Anttila
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
A prior physician visit did not worsen outcomes for children with bacterial meningitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, and prior visits did not negatively impact hearing or neurological development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Neurology
- Clinical outcomes research
Background:
- Bacterial meningitis in children can lead to severe complications.
- The impact of a recent physician visit prior to meningitis diagnosis on patient outcomes is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate whether a recent prior physician visit affects the clinical outcome of pediatric bacterial meningitis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 325 children (3 months–15 years) with bacterial meningitis across 18 Finnish pediatric hospitals (1984–1991).
- Compared outcomes for children diagnosed immediately versus those seen by a physician 1 day or 2–4 days prior to diagnosis.
- Assessed clinical findings, cerebrospinal fluid parameters, hospitalization recovery, mortality, and neurologic/hearing assessments at 6 months post-discharge.
Main Results:
- 74% of cases were diagnosed immediately; 14% and 11% had prior visits on the previous day or 2–4 days earlier, respectively.
- Children seen 2–4 days prior showed more respiratory symptoms and otitis media, with distinct cerebrospinal fluid profiles but faster return to normal consciousness.
- No significant differences were observed in hearing impairment, neurologic sequelae, or mortality rates across the groups.
Conclusions:
- A prior physician visit, even 2–4 days before diagnosis, did not increase the risk of adverse outcomes in pediatric bacterial meningitis.
- Findings suggest that initial physician encounters may not negatively influence the ultimate prognosis for childhood meningitis.
Objective:
To assess the effect of a recent previous visit to a physician on the outcome of meningitis in children.
Design:
Evaluation of data from children examined by a physician and sent home, either the previous day or 2 to 4 days before meningitis was diagnosed, and children whose meningitis was diagnosed at once. The patients were examined daily during hospitalization, neurologic examinations were repeated at 2 weeks and 3 and 6 months after discharge, and hearing was assessed 2 or more months after discharge.
Setting:
Eighteen pediatric hospitals in Finland from 1984 through 1991.
Population:
A total of 325 children aged 3 months to 15 years with bacterial meningitis.
Main Outcome Measures:
Clinical and laboratory findings on admission, recovery during hospitalization, mortality, and neurologic abnormalities at 6 months of follow-up.
Results:
In 74% of the patients, meningitis was diagnosed at once, 14% had visited a physician on the previous day, and 11% had seen a physician 2 to 4 days before diagnosis. The group seen 2 to 4 days earlier had a better level of consciousness, less frequent seizures, and more respiratory symptoms and otitis media than the other groups. The cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count, white blood cell count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were highest and the cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration was lowest in the children who had visited a physician 2 to 4 days earlier, although they also had lower cerebrospinal fluid protein and urine sodium and potassium levels. This group had the most rapid return to normal consciousness. There was no difference in the incidence of hearing impairment or neurologic sequelae. Even the mortality was virtually the same in the three groups: 4%, 4%, and 3% in the "same day," "previous day," and "2 to 4 days earlier" groups, respectively.
Conclusions:
Children who had visited a physician the previous day or 2 to 4 days before meningitis was diagnosed did not exhibit an increased frequency of hearing impairment, other neurologic abnormalities, or overall adverse outcome compared with children whose meningitis was diagnosed at once.