OBJECTIVETo introduce co-word analysis into the analysis of the current research status of childhood tuberculous meningitis, to compare the similarities and differences in research topics of the field in China and abroad over the past decade, and to discover the advantages and weak links in the study field in China.

METHODSPubMed, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang Data were searched for the articles which met the inclusion criteria. Ucinet 6.0 and Netdraw were used for co-occurrence analysis, and the co-article relationship between high-frequency key words was visualized.

RESULTSA total of 226 articles abroad and 186 Chinese articles on childhood tuberculous meningitis were obtained. The figures for co-occurrence analysis of high-frequency key words in research articles on childhood tuberculous meningitis in China and abroad were successfully plotted. Compared with the studies in China, the studies abroad were more sophisticated and well-developed, with more studies on drug-resistant tuberculosis, the relationship between tuberculosis and AIDS, and the epidemiology of tuberculosis. The key words listed in the studies abroad were more standard. The studies in China on childhood tuberculous meningitis concentrated on vaccination and nursing.

CONCLUSIONSIn general, the studies on childhood tuberculous meningitis in China and abroad have the same directions. The studies abroad have a complicated network and use more standard key words. The studies on childhood tuberculous meningitis are well conducted in China. However, more studies are needed for drug-resistant tuberculosis, the relationship between tuberculosis and AIDS, and the epidemiology of tuberculosis in future.

Biomedical Research ; China ; Humans ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal ; complications ; drug therapy ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the factors influencing short-term prognosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children.

METHODSThe clinical data of 137 hospitalized children with TBM between January 2007 and February 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 30 potential factors influencing short-term prognosis of TBM were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSClinical staging showed that of the 137 children 21 cases (15.3%) were in the early stage, 67 cases (48.9%) in the medium stage and 49 cases (35.8%) in the late stage of TBM. The univariate analysis revealed 8 factors associated with a poor short-term prognosis: clinical stage of TBM (late), coma, positive Babinski signs, cranial nerve involvements, paralysis, seizures, obvious abnormalities in brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and elevated protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Factors associated with a favourable short-term prognosis for TBM included glucocorticoid steroids therapy, positive reaction of PPD skin test and an increased length of stay in hospital. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed two independent risk factors for a poor short-term prognosis: clinical stage of TBM (late) (OR: 11.168, 95%CI: 3.521-35.426) and positive signs of meningeal irritation (OR: 4.275, 95%CI: 1.043-17.521). An increased length of stay in hospital was shown as a favorable factor (OR: 0.893, 95%CI: 0.825-0.968).

CONCLUSIONSLate-stage TBM and positive signs of meningeal irritation suggest a poor prognosis, while an appropriately longer length of stay in hospital may contribute to a favorable short-term prognosis for children with TBM.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal ; complications ; diagnosis

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tuberculoma of the spinal cord is uncommon entity and moreover, few reports have been documented on concurrent IDEM and intracranial tuberculomas. Authors report a case of IDEM spinal tuberculoma having intracranial lesion simultaneously. A 49-year-old woman suffered from paraparesis and urinary incontinence while being given medical treatment for tuberculous meningitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an IDEM mass lesion between the T1 and T2 spinal levels, and multiple intracranial tuberculous granulomas. Surgical resection of the IDEM tuberculoma followed by anti-tuberculous medication resulted in good outcome.
Brain/radiography ; Case Report ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Age ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification ; Spinal Cord Diseases/radiography* ; Tuberculoma/surgery ; Tuberculoma/radiography ; Tuberculoma/drug therapy ; Tuberculoma/complications* ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/surgery ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/radiography ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/drug therapy ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/complications*

We present a case of oral myiasis in a 15-year-old boy with tuberculosis meningitis. The diagnosis was based on the visual presence of wriggling larvae about 1 cm in size and on the microscopic features of the maggots, especially those relating to stigmatic structures. The larvae were identified as third stage larvae of Sarcophaga sp.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Cross Infection/microbiology/*parasitology ; *Diptera ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth Diseases/complications/*parasitology ; Myiasis/complications/*diagnosis ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/complications ; Turkey