Tuberculous meningitis : role of hydrocephalus in prognosis

Abstract EN

Objectives : Tuberculous Meningitis (TBM) remains a serious health threat in developing countries.

Hydrocephalus in TBM significantly influenced the prognosis and unlike other prognostics factors its presence would change the management of the patients.

This study was aimed to evaluate the incidence of hydrocephalous in TBM and relation between management of hydrocephalus and therapeutic outcomes of TBM.

Patients and methods : Over a period of 10 years (1991-2001) patients with diagnosis of TBM retrospectively identified.

Computerized Tomography (CT) scan features in these patients and therapeutic outcome were analyzed.

Results : Ninety six patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria and 21 patients (22%) died during admission.

Seventy seven patients (80.2 %) had hydrocephalous in their cranial CT scan, and of these, 23.4 % underwent special treatment.

5.5 % patients with special treatment of hydrocephalous and 33.9% patients without treatment deceased (P = 0.0I8).

Conclusion : Early diagnosis and proper management of hydrocephalus should be considered in management of patients with TBM