[Tuberculous meningitis in a 13-month-old boy: a case report]

We present the case of a 13-month old Turkish boy of Kurdish origin with tuberculous meningitis. Fever of unknown origin and neurologic symptoms (loss of ability of walking and free sitting, cerebral seizures, central paresis of the VII. cranial nerve, coma) led to the diagnosis. Cranial CT demonstrated hydrocephalus and enhancement of the basal meninges after contrast injection; the chest x-ray showed an infiltrate in the right upper lobe of the lung and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mild pleocytosis with elevated protein and reduced glucose concentrations. Diagnosis was confirmed by detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the CSF by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Immediately, surgical and level-controlled tuberculostatic treatment was initiated. The patient recovered completely.