Seizures and other neurologic sequelae of bacterial meningitis in children

Article Abstract:

There has been a dramatic decrease in mortality due to bacterial meningitis in recent decades. Unfortunately, permanent neurological abnormalities, including mental retardation, are common among children who survive this infection. However, little is known of the factors that contribute to the likelihood of permanent damage, and it is unclear what features help establish the prognosis for an individual patient. For this reason, a prospective study was organized for the long-term follow-up and evaluation of 185 infants and children with bacterial meningitis. The average follow-up was 8.9 years. Hemophilus influenzae meningitis was responsible for the majority of the cases, affecting 64 percent of the subjects. Meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae caused 16 percent of the cases, and Neisseria meningitidis caused 11 percent. Other organisms were involved in 8 percent, while in 5 percent the causative organism could not be isolated or identified. A total of 58 patients had seizures during the acute phase of their illness, and 69 patients (37 percent) had some neurologic abnormality on examination one month after meningitis. However, it was found that abnormalities persisting one month after infection had a good chance of resolving, and only 26 children (14 percent) had persistent neurologic abnormalities. Hearing loss was the most common; in 18 patients it was the only deficit. Eight patients had severe neurologic deficits such as mental retardation, paralysis, or blindness. Thirteen children had one or more late seizures. The occurrence of late seizures was statistically correlated with the occurrence of seizures during the acute infection, but more striking was the association of the late seizures with other neurological deficits. Three patients had only one late seizure. Of the remaining 10 children, 7 had serious neurological deficits other than sensorineural hearing loss. The results indicate that children with a normal neurological examination after recovering from bacterial meningitis have an excellent chance of escaping serious complications, including seizures. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Infection, Complications and side effects, Meningitis, Central nervous system, Hemophilus meningitis

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Tales from the temporal lobes

Article Abstract:

Temporal-lobe epilepsy was attributed to be the cause of patient's transient amnesia. Short-lived amnesia, the epigastric aura, hallucinations of smell and disorders of language could be pointers to a disturbance of function in the temporal lobes.

United States, Science & research, Research, Causes of, Risk factors, Neurology, Amnesia, Temporal lobe epilepsy

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