Aetiologies, Patterns of Presentation and Mortality of Acute Bacterial Meningitis among Yemeni Children in A Tertiary Referral Hospital in Sana'a
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- Category: Vol. 85, June 2017
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Aetiologies, Patterns of Presentation and Mortality of Acute Bacterial Meningitis among Yemeni Children in A Tertiary Referral Hospital in Sana'a, NAJLA AL-SONBOLI, ABDULLA M. BIN AL-ZOA, ARWA AL-HARAZI, ALI AL-ERYANI, NASHER AL-AGHBARI, ZEKRA AL-SHAEKH and BASHEER ABO ASBA
Abstract
Background: Acute Bacterial Meningitis (ABM) is a significant cause of death and disability globally mainly in the developing countries.
Aim: To determine the clinical presentation of children with ABM and the incidence of its causative organisms.
Methods: A cross sectional prospective study conducted over a of six years in Al-Sabeen Hospital for Maternity and Children (AHMC). The World Health Organization (WHO) clinical case definitions (suspected, probable and confirmed case) were used. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) examination was done according to standard laboratory operations procedures. Collected data analyzed using Epi info software. Ethical approval from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoH & P) and Al-Sabeen Hospital Ethical Committee was taken.
Results: Two thousands ninety six patients aged 1-180 months admitted with clinical suspicion of meningitis were enrolled, 816 (38.9%) were probable cases and 25 (1.2%) confirmed positive culture. The final diagnosis of ABM was given to 822 (39%) children. The most common presenting symptoms were fever (96%) and seizures (78%). Seizures and bulging fontanel were more common among children £60 month of age (younger children), while the other symptoms were statistically significant more among children >60 months of age (older children) (p-value <0.01 for all).
The culture was done for 705 CSF samples, 25 (3.5%) were positive. Twelve (48%) were streptococcus pneumonia (S. pneumonia), one (4%) Neisseria meningitides (N. Men-ingitidis), one (4%) Haemophilus influenzae (H. Influenzae) and 11 (44%) other bacteria.
Conclusion: ABM is a medical emergency which requires revising the epidemiology of the disease to adjust the preven-tive strategies in the country.