Mortality from bacterial meningitis in children in Kosovo

J Child Neurol. 2012 Jan;27(1):46-50. doi: 10.1177/0883073811413280. Epub 2011 Jul 15.

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infection responsible for high mortality. This prospective study of 277 pediatric bacterial meningitis cases was done to identify factors predicting death in children <16 years of age living and treated in a limited-resources country (Kosovo). Of the 277 children enrolled, 60 patients (22%) developed neurologic complications, and 15 children died (5%). The following variables were strongly correlated with mortality: altered mental status on admission (relative risk [RR] = 29.9), presentation of the initial cerebrospinal fluid as thick pus (RR = 29.9), prehospital seizures (RR = 23.5) and their recurrence >24 hours after admission (RR = 11.5), age <1 month (RR = 19.3), the use of inotropic agents (RR = 11.5), and admission after 5 days' duration of illness (P < .001). The mortality rate in children in Kosovo is similar to those reported from developing countries, and this is most likely due to the unfavorable living conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Developmental Disabilities / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / complications
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / mortality*
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / mortality
  • Survival Analysis
  • Yugoslavia / epidemiology