Diagnostic Dilemma

Meningitis


Author:
Question
A 7 month old boy born of non consanguineous marriage presented with fever, cough, cold and 3 episodes of convulsion within 6 hours. Initially the convulsion was generalized tonic clonic convulsion followed by 2 left focal convulsion each lasting for 5-10 minutes without past ictal drowsiness. There was no history of tuberculosis, family history of seizures or fall. Birth and milestones were normal. On examination, he was conscious, had normal vital parameters. There was no beading, hypertension, neurological signs or neck stiffness. In view of 3 episodes of seizures with fever, a lumbar puncture was done that showed 72 cells/cumm (100% lymphocytes), proteins of 38 mg% and sugar of 42 mg% (corresponding blood sugar = 120 mg%). His CT brain was done which was normal. The child was given antibiotics for meningitis for 14 days.

Are antibiotics required in this patient?
Expert Opinion :
Not every meningitis is bacterial meningitis and not every low sugar meningitis is again bacterial meningitis. Infact low sugar may also be seen in viral meningitis apart from tuberculous meningitis and fungal meningitis. The commonest cause of meningitis is viral and then followed by bacterial and tuberculosis. Viral meningitis usually presents with fever, multiple episodes of seizures (with normal sensorium) and lymphocytic predominance on CSF examination. Hence viral meningitis is also called as aseptic meningitis. Bacterial meningitis presents with fever, toxicity, vomiting and is associated with high CSF cell count (initially polymorphs and later lymphocytic). In this child, the duration of disease has only been for 6 hours, CSF shows lymphocytes and child has not received any antibiotics before CSF examination. Thus, it is suggestive of viral meningitis. Through CSF sugar is low; it may be seen with viral infections. In this child, CT brain was normal. CSF culture and latex were negative and CSF PCR was positive for enterovirus. Thus antibiotics are not required and one needs to assess every low sugar meningitis for the cause.
Answer Discussion :
H
Halal Osakwe
bubble
We evaluate if it is provoked or unprovoked, and then evaluate the risk of recurrence. The question here is to ask if this child could be having a manifestation of a form of epilepsy. I don’t think Antibiotics should be given to this patient. But for precautionary measures it could be given because of the fear of the long term consequences
11 Days ago
S
sai krishna kittu
bubble
start empirical antibiotics and f/up for csf culture
12 Days ago

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