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  3. 8. Frequencies of Common Intracranial Infections Leading to Coma in Children
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8. Frequencies of Common Intracranial Infections Leading to Coma in Children

Anila Farhat and Sohail Babar

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study was carried out to find the frequencies of common intracranial infections like

tuberculous meningitis, bacterial meningitis and viral encephalitis in children presented with coma.

Study Design: Descriptive / cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Benazir Bhutoo Shaheed Hospital Abbottabad from April 2016 to July 2017.

Materials and Methods: With the approval from hospital ethical committee, 92 patients of either gender with intracranial infections presented with coma were included in the study. Details of history, clinical examination at the time of admission and clinical variables were recorded on a structured proforma. Data was entered and analyzed in SPS version 17. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variable like age whereas for categorical variables like temperature, fits, acute onset of illness, BCG scar, neck stiffness, papilledema, corneal reflex and pupillary reaction, percentages and frequencies were calculated.

Results: In the study population, male patients predominate with a total of 68.5% patients while 31.5% patients were female. Frequencies of bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis and tuberculous meningitis were 44.6%, 31.5% and 23.9% respectively in the patients presented with coma. The study showed that the percentage of patients presented with different clinical variables, that is, temperature more than 100°F, fits, neck stiffness, BCG scar and papilledema were 88%, 72.8%, 68.5%, 41.3%, and 37% respectively.30.4% of patients presented with coma with in 48hrs of onset of acute illness. Pupillary and corneal reflex were absent in 18.5% and 20.7% patients respectively.

Conclusion: Amongst intracranial infections in patients presented with coma, frequency of bacterial meningitis was highest followed by viral encephalitis and tuberculous meningitis.

Key Words: Intracranial infection, coma, bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, tuberculous meningitis

Citation of article: Farhat A, Babar S. Frequencies of Common Intracranial Infections Leading to Coma inChildren. Med Forum 2017;28(11):32-36.