Recurrent meningitis associated with congenital paravertebral dermal sinus tract

Recurrent meningitis is a rare but important event that needs to be searched for a predisposing factor. Congenital dermal sinuses occurring in the midline are among the etiological factors. Here, an 18-month-old boy with three attacks of recurrent meningitis due to a paramedian dermal sinus tract is presented. Klebsiella was the cultured causative agent. The lesion was suspected on physical examination and demonstrated by lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in English-language literature of the paravertebrally located dermal sinus tract resulting in recurrent meningitis. Therefore, a careful physical examination, especially including the paravertebral region beside the midline, is essential. Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive descriptive method in the evaluation of congenital dermal sinus tracts.