Clinico-epidemiological profile of 75 cases of TB meningitis in children and adoloscents

Background Neurological involvement is one of the deadliest forms of tuberculosis especially in pediatric population. Aim To study the clinico-epidemiological profile of 75 cases of pediatric TB meningitis and its co-relation with CBNAAT/TRUENAT positivity. Study design Prospective study in children and adolescents less than 18 years in Tertiary Health care centre in New Delhi. Subjects and methods 75 Children and adolescents less than 18 years with Probable TBM as per NTEP guidelines were enrolled. Clinical, Radiological and CSF analysis were carried out in all the patients. Results 75 children were enrolled out of which 61% were females. The most common symptom at presentation was fever followed by loss of appetite and weight loss. Neck rigidity was present in 66% cases followed by posturing in 25% cases. 46% patients presented in Stage 2. Tuberculin skin test was positive in 16% cases and 20% patients had evidence of pulmonary TB on chest Xray. Hydrocephalous was the most common finding in neuroimaging present in 61% cases. In majority of the cases, CSF analysis revealed pleocytosis with lymphocyte predominance, low glucose and high protein values. Nucleic amplification tests (CBNAAT/TRUENAT) were positive in 33% cases and 4 out of 75 were detected to have rifampicin resistance. There was no co-relation identified between Stage at presentation, tuberculin positivity and CSF analysis with CBNAAT/TRUENAT positivity. Six patients expired within 2 weeks of presentation. Conclusion The diagnosis of TBM is a composite of clinical, radiological and CSF analysis parameters. Being a paucibacillary sample, the yield of TB bacilli in NAAT studies remains moderately low. Moreover, detection of TB bacilli in CBNAAT/TRUENAT is independent of the CSF cytological and biochemical profile, and is also independent of the Stage of TBM.