The Useful Clinical Indicators of Performing a Spinal Tapping During an Outbreak of Enteroviral Meningitis .
- Author:
Hye Rim KIM
;
Hui Kwon KIM
;
Hong Jin LEE
;
Won Il PARK
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Enteroviral meningitis;
Spinal tapping;
Clinical indicator
- MeSH:
Anti-Bacterial Agents;
Blood Sedimentation;
Child;
Consciousness;
Fever;
Headache;
Heart;
Humans;
Incidence;
Length of Stay;
Leukocytes;
Medical Records;
Meningitis;
Meningitis, Aseptic;
Meningitis, Bacterial;
Platelet Count;
Retrospective Studies;
Seasons;
Seizures;
Spinal Puncture;
Vomiting
- From:
Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
2009;17(2):185-191
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Although spinal tapping and cerebrospinal fluid analysis is essential for diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, it is equivocal that all patients with headache and vomiting should receive spinal tapping for diagnosis of meningitis during an outbreak of enteroviral meningitis in summer seasons. The purpose of this study was to find clinical indicators that may be useful for differentiation of bacterial meningitis, and also to compare the clinical course between spinal tapping group and non-spinal tapping group confirmed enteroviral infection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical record of 65 cases of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) proven enteroviral meningitis, and 30 cases of culture proven bacterial meningitis admitted in Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital. We compared the difference of clinical factors between bacterial and enteroviral meningitis groups and also clinical course between spinal tapping and non-spinal tapping groups. RESULTS: Children with bacterial meningitis had younger age onset, high incidence of seizure and altered consciousness, increased C-reactive protein(CRP) levels(P<0.05), but no difference in fever degree at admission and white blood cell and platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(P>0.05). Children with spinal tapping group with enteroviral meningitis had longer hospital stay and duration of fever as compared to children in non-spinal tapping group(P<0.05), but no difference in duration of headache in both groups. CONCLUSION: We recommend children with younger age, altered consciousness, having seizure and increased CRP levels receive spinal tapping for the differentiation of bacterial meningitis during an outbreak of enteroviral meningitis, and introduction of rapid diagnostic technique may reduce unnecessary spinal tapping, hospital stay and antibiotics therapy.
