TY  - BOOK
AU  -   Abdallah Hassan Othoman 
AU  -  Rogatus Kabyemera 
AU  - Felix Tarimo
TI  - Prevalence, Clinical Presentations and Outcome of Acute Bacterial Meningitis among Children below Fifteen Years Old Admitted At Bugando Medical Center from January 2021-December 2022
PY  - 2023///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania: 
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando]
KW  -  
N2  - Abstract: 

Background: Meningitis is a term used to describe an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain or the spinal cord. Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that can rapidly progress to permanent brain damage, neurological problems and even death. Meningitis in developed countries has improved in its fatality in comparison to developing countries. Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) remains an important cause of death and neurological sequelae in African children. The clinical features of meningitis are often nonspecific and, in this setting, may overlap with those of malaria. Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are perhaps the most important steps in management, but published data suggest that fewer than half of the cases of childhood meningitis are identified at first assessment in hospitals in this region. 

Objective of the Study: To assess the prevalence, clinical presentations and outcome of acute bacterial meningitis in children below 15 years of age.

Methodology: A retrospective cross section study was conducted, focusing on children who were admitted at BMC in Mwanza-Tanzania from January 2021-December 2022. Data was collected from the wards’ register books and the computer database of the BMC from the respective wards and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Data analysis was done using Chi-square and independent t-test to establish the odds ratio of acquiring the disease.

Results: Of 241 records of children who underwent lumbar puncture 50.7% and 49.3% were female and male respectively; Aged 0-2 years (47.9%), 3–5 years (19.7%) and 6–15 years (32.4%). Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, H. influenzae and Neisseria meningitides were mostly isolated from the CSF samples at the hospital. Location (OR) = 3.1; p = 0.0017), parity of the mother (OR = 3.8; p = 0.008), Neurological signs (OR = 4.5; p = 0.001) and elevated CSF protein (OR = 4.5; p = 0.001) were the factors associated with bacterial meningitis infection among children. 

Conclusion: Meningitis is a life-threatening infection in children under 15 years. Thus, microbial isolation should be established in most hospitals to improve early case identification and reporting at health facilities and the national level.

ER  -