ANALYSIS OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID ANALYTES IN BACTERIAL AND TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS

Abstract

Objective:  Meningitis is the severe and lethal infection spread worldwide. The most common forms of meningitis are viral and bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitides and other species. Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most mortal form of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which has a high rate of neurological complications and sequelae. The best method for diagnosis of meningitis is cerebrospinal fluid analysis (CSF). The purpose of present study is to determine the CSF examination (glucose and protein levels) of subjects with bacterial meningitis (BM) and TBM and their comparison with healthy individuals.

Study Design: Cohort Study.

Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted in Children Medical Complex Hospital Multan, during February 2016 to June 2016.

Materials and Methods: The data of 75 children (25 of TBM, 25 of BM and 25 of normal) with age <5 years was collected. The analysis of CSF protein and glucose levels was done by standard methods. The data was statistically analyzed by using SPSS software (version 20).

Results: Results showed that levels of glucose in CSF were decreased in BM and TBM than normal individuals, whereas, in TBM glucose levels were more decreased than BM. On the other hand, the levels of protein were high in both diseases bacterial meningitis and TBM than normal individuals.

Conclusion: It is concluded that, poverty, sneezing, coughing, low nutritional quality of meals and unhygienic conditions are responsible for meningitis. Earlier diagnosis can might prevent the disease but severe form of this disease need effective antibiotic treatment. Vaccination also plays an efficient role in prevention of meningitis.

Keywords: Meningitis, BM, TBM, CSF analysis, Glucose, Protein