Acute bacterial meningoencephalitis in children: complications and neurologic sequelae

We studied 271 children under age of 15 with diagnosis of acute bacterial meningencephalitis treated at Medical School in Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, between 1980 and 1990. The patients were divided in two groups: I) those who had not received previous antibiotics treatment (NTP), with 153 cases; and 2), those who had received previous antibiotics treatment (PT), with 118 cases. The etiological agent was more frequently identified in NPT group, while ventriculitis was more frequent in PT group. Mortality rate accounted for 19,5% of all cases, and 29.7% of children under 12 months of age. Acute meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae was frequently followed by increased mortality. Convulsive disorders and hemiparesis predominante among children under 12 months of age. On the neurosurgical point of view, ventriculitis, subdural hygroma, hydrocephalus, subdural empyema and brain abscess were identified and treated.