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[Clinical and laboratory characteristics of 62 tuberculous meningoencephalitis cases]
Insights
This study characterizes tuberculous meningoencephalitis in 62 patients, highlighting fever and neck stiffness as common symptoms. Findings aid in understanding this severe central nervous system tuberculosis form.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Public Health
Context:
- Tuberculous meningoencephalitis (TME) is a severe form of central nervous system tuberculosis.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for patient outcomes.
- Understanding TME's clinical and laboratory features is vital for effective management.
Purpose:
- To describe the clinical, demographic, and laboratory characteristics of patients with proven tuberculous meningoencephalitis.
- To identify common signs, symptoms, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in TME cases.
- To provide data from a reference infectious disease hospital in Bahia, Brazil.
Summary:
- The study analyzed 62 patients with confirmed TME, with a majority (59.7%) aged 0-4 years.
- Fever (86.7%) and neck stiffness (81.8%) were the most frequent clinical manifestations.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed variable cell counts, glucose, and protein levels, with a predominant lymphocytic pleocytosis in most cases, though neutrophilic predominance was noted in 21.3%.
Impact:
- This research contributes to the understanding of TME epidemiology and clinical presentation in a specific Brazilian population.
- The findings can inform clinical practice, diagnostic approaches, and public health strategies for TME.
- Data on CSF profiles, including atypical neutrophilic predominance, may refine diagnostic criteria and treatment considerations.
Abstract:
The authors present clinical, demographic and laboratory characteristics of 62 patients with proven tuberculous meningoencephalitis admitted at Couto Maia Hospital, reference for patients with infectious diseases in the State of Bahia. The patients' age varied from 2 months to 50 years, 59.7% of the cases with ages ranging from 0 to 4 years, no sex predominance. The time length for the disease varied from 0 to 90 days, average around 13 days. The most common signs and symptoms were fever and neck stiffness in 86.7 and 81.8% of the cases respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid showed cells varying from 4 to 1549/mm3, average of 406; glucose from 20 to 70 mg/dL, average of 37.3, protein from 30 to 500 mg/dL, average of 203; lymphocyte predominance occurred in most cases, however in 21.3% there was predominance of neutrophils.