Acute Complications of Meningitis in Patients Presenting to Pediatric Ward of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat

Asim Mehmood; Ashfaq Ahmed; Israr ul Haq; Aqal Zada; . Rahimdad; Khurshid Ali

doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v6i6.2372

Authors

Asim Mehmood Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat, Pakistan
Ashfaq Ahmed Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat, Pakistan
Israr ul Haq Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat, Pakistan
Aqal Zada Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat, Pakistan
. Rahimdad Department of Pediatrics, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals Swat, Pakistan
Khurshid Ali Department of Pediatrics, Bacha Khan Medical Complex Swabi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v6i6.2372

Keywords:

Acute complications, Bacterial meningitis, Children, Seizures, Subdural effusion

Abstract

Meningitis is a life-threatening central nervous system infection in children and is associated with significant neurological morbidity despite advances in antimicrobial therapy. Acute neurological complications can adversely affect clinical outcomes and long-term neurodevelopment. Early recognition of these complications is essential for timely intervention and improved prognosis. Objective: To determine the frequency of acute complications of meningitis among children presenting to the Pediatric Ward of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals, Swat. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 114 children aged 1–5 months of either gender with confirmed meningitis diagnosed based on clinical features and cerebrospinal fluid analysis from 12-January-2025 to 12-May-2025 in Department of Pediatrics of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Swat. Children with head injury, myelomeningocele, or sepsis were excluded. Acute complications, including seizures, subdural effusion, hydrocephalus, cranial nerve palsy, and hemiplegia, were assessed using a pre-designed structured proforma. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency of complications, while associations with demographic variables were evaluated using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. A p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the 114 children was 2.95 ± 1.37 months. Males comprised 71 (62.3%) of the study population, while females accounted for 43 (37.7%). Seizures were the most common acute complication, occurring in 16 (14.0%) children, followed by subdural effusion in 12 (10.5%), hydrocephalus in 10 (8.8%), hemiplegia in 8 (7.0%), and cranial nerve palsy in 7 (6.1%) children. Conclusion: Seizures were the most frequent acute complication of meningitis in infants, followed by subdural effusion and hydrocephalus. Early identification and prompt management of these neurological complications are essential to reduce morbidity and improve outcomes in children with meningitis.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

0

References

1. Berardi A, Lugli L, Rossi C, China MC, Vellani G, Contiero R, et al. Neonatal bacterial meningitis. Minerva Pediatr. 2010;62(3 Suppl 1):51-4.

2. Widjaja H, Rusmawatiningtyas D, Makrufardi F, Arguni E. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as predictor of mortality in pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis: a retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022;73:103191.

3. Abduqodirov ST. The main etiological factors, methods of prevention and treatment of meningitis. Int J Sci Trends. 2023;2(2):141-8.

4. Bystritsky RJ, Chow FC. Infectious meningitis and encephalitis. Neurol Clin. 2022;40(1):77-91.

5. Kohil A, Jemmieh S, Smatti MK, Yassine HM. Viral meningitis: an overview. Arch Virol. 2021;166(2):335-45.

6. Naz S, Mushtaq A, Khan MZ, Bari A, Ahmad TM. Spectrum of acute complications and mortality in bacterial meningitis. Pak Paed J. 2012;36(3):132-6.

7. Ba O, Fleming JA, Dieye Y, Mutombo BM, Ba M, Cisse MF, et al. Hospital surveillance of childhood bacterial meningitis in Senegal and the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2010;83(6):1330-5.

8. Kambiré D, Soeters HM, Ouédraogo-Traoré R, Medah I, Sangaré L, Yaméogo I, et al. Nationwide trends in bacterial meningitis before the introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-Burkina Faso, 2011-2013. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):e0166384.

9. Khuhro AA, Ali W, Jamali A, Rehman FU. Bacterial meningitis and its acute complications. Professional Med J. 2020;27(10):2088-92.

10. Chinchankar N, Mane M, Bhave S, Bapat S, Bavdekar A, Pandit A, et al. Diagnosis and outcome of acute bacterial meningitis in early childhood. Indian Pediatr. 2002;39(10):914-21.

11. Antoniuk SA, Hamdar F, Ducci RD, Kira ATF, Cat MNL, da Cruz CR. Childhood acute bacterial meningitis: risk factors for acute neurological complications and neurological sequelae. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2011;87(6):535-40.

12. Burki FU, Khan MI, Ahmad A. Frequency of acute complications of pyogenic meningitis in children during hospital stay. Med Forum. 2019;30(1):14-7.

13. Javaid BK, Khan HI, Waheed I. Comparison of chloramphenicol and third generation cephalosporins in management of bacterial meningitis in children. Pak Pediatr J. 2003;27(4):169-73.

14. Zainel A, Mitchell H, Sadarangani M. Bacterial meningitis in children: neurological complications, associated risk factors, and prevention. Microorganisms. 2021;9(3):535.

15. Fayyaz J, Rehman A, Hamid A, Khursheed M, Zia N, Feroze A. Age related clinical manifestation of acute bacterial meningitis in children presenting to emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. J Pak Med Assoc. 2014;64(3):296-9.