The Epidemiology and Outcomes of Meningitis among Iranian Children in a Period of 10 Years

One of the important causes of childhood febrile illness is meningitis. It causes bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious agents. Pediatric bacterial meningitis is one of the most important causes of infant mortality, especially in premature infants. This study aimed to identify the outcome and mortality of children with meningitis.

All children with meningitis in the Pediatric Department of Rasool Akram Hospital from December 23, 2007, to December 16, 2017, were included. Signs and symptoms (fever, consciousness, neck rigidity, and seizure) were collected and Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in children was made. Based on these findings, patients were divided into two groups, which include bacterial and non-bacterial meningitis. Then we recalled all families and examined them to discover the child’s outcome and complications at least after two years.

During the ten-year study period, 202 children were included in the study. Patients aged less than 12 months were found to be more frequently affected. Fever was the most common presentation (83.4%) followed by seizure (51.5%) and vomiting (49%). 119 (58.9%) of the patients were male and 83 (41.1%) were female. Definite bacterial meningitis was the final diagnosis in 35.6% (72) of patients (mean age 34.1± 48.3 months), and non-bacterial meningitis was diagnosed in 64.4% (130) of cases (mean age 46.3± 52.4 months). The most common organism in bacterial meningitis (by all methods) was Streptococcus pneumonia. Among children, 187 (92.1%) were survivors and 15 (%7.9) were non-survivors. Neurological sequelae such as motor deficit and epilepsy were identified in 9 (4.8%) and 5 (2.6%) subjects, respectively, and that they were all caused by bacterial meningitis. There was no death or neurological sequelae observed during follow-up in children with non-bacterial meningitis. Gender, age, signs and symptoms of patients at the time of admission were not significantly different between the bacterial and non-bacterial meningitis groups (p>0.05). Hydrocephalus, CSF characteristic, morbidity and mortality were significantly different between the bacterial and non-bacterial meningitis groups.

This study showed that elevated LDH and low glucose levels in CSF are characteristic of bacterial meningitis. Increased LDH is significantly related to death in children (P-value > 0.001) with meningitis. Beneficial empirical antibiotics and sufficient follow-up by parents cause good prognosis in children with meningitis. Also in a child with fever and seizure, we should think of meningitis, even though in the absence of positive neurological examinations. It seems that increased CSF LDH, elevated CSF protein and age under one year are significant mortality risk factors in children with meningitis.