Conventional cerebrospinal fluid investigations in the diagnosis of meningitis
Date
1987
Authors
Donald P.R.
Burger P.J.
Becker W.B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
A 3-year prospective study is reported of the value of conventional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) investigations in the diagnosis of meningitis. Of 739 cases of aseptic meningitis 74 (10 per cent) had a total CSF cell count >500 × 106/l, a + or more of turbidity present on Pandy's test, a CSF total protein >0.8G1, or a CSF glucose <2.2mmol/l and would have been inappropriately treated for bacterial meningitis using these criteria alone as would 18 (17 per cent) of 108 confirmed viral meningitis cases. Conversely, 10 (7 per cent) of 140 N. meningitidis cases, 3 (6 per cent) of 47 H. influenzae cases, and none of 34 S. pneumoniae cases had a total CSF cell count <500 × 106/l, globulin absent or a trace on Pandy's test, a CSF total protein <0.8 G/l, a CSF glucose >2.2 mmol/l and no organisms visible on microscopy. In a tuberculosis meningitis group of 62 children, 55 (89 per cent) had either a + or more of turbidity on Pandy's test, a CSF protein >0.8 G/l, a CSF glucose < 2.2 mmol/l or acid fast bacilli visible on microscopy. Pandy's test is a simple, but valuable aid to the selection of cases requiring the institution of antibiotic therapy. © 1987 Oxford University Press.
Description
Keywords
article, aseptic meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid, child, human, meningitis, prospective study, protein cerebrospinal fluid level, South Africa, virus meningitis, Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins, Child, Human, Meningitis, Meningitis, Aseptic, Meningitis, Viral, Prospective Studies, South Africa, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Citation
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
33
4
33
4