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Bacterial Meningitis in Children: Neurological Complications, Associated Risk Factors, and Prevention Zainel, Abdulwahed; Mitchell, Hana; Sadarangani, Manish

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is a devastating infection, with a case fatality rate of up to 30% and 50% of survivors developing neurological complications. These include short-term complications such as focal neurological deficit and subdural effusion, and long-term complications such as hearing loss, seizures, cognitive impairment and hydrocephalus. Complications develop due to bacterial toxin release and the host immune response, which lead to neuronal damage. Factors associated with increased risk of developing neurological complications include young age, delayed presentation and Streptococcus pneumoniae as an etiologic agent. Vaccination is the primary method of preventing bacterial meningitis and therefore its complications. There are three vaccine preventable causes: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), S. pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis. Starting antibiotics without delay is also critical to reduce the risk of neurological complications. Additionally, early adjuvant corticosteroid use in Hib meningitis reduces the risk of hearing loss and severe neurological complications.

Item Metadata

Title
Bacterial Meningitis in Children: Neurological Complications, Associated Risk Factors, and Prevention
Creator
Zainel, Abdulwahed; Mitchell, Hana; Sadarangani, Manish
Contributor
Children's Hospital (Vancouver, B.C.). Vaccine Evaluation Center
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Date Issued
2021-03-05
Description
Bacterial meningitis is a devastating infection, with a case fatality rate of up to 30% and 50% of survivors developing neurological complications. These include short-term complications such as focal neurological deficit and subdural effusion, and long-term complications such as hearing loss, seizures, cognitive impairment and hydrocephalus. Complications develop due to bacterial toxin release and the host immune response, which lead to neuronal damage. Factors associated with increased risk of developing neurological complications include young age, delayed presentation and Streptococcus pneumoniae as an etiologic agent. Vaccination is the primary method of preventing bacterial meningitis and therefore its complications. There are three vaccine preventable causes: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), S. pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis. Starting antibiotics without delay is also critical to reduce the risk of neurological complications. Additionally, early adjuvant corticosteroid use in Hib meningitis reduces the risk of hearing loss and severe neurological complications.
Subject
bacterial meningitis; neurological sequelae; hearing loss; seizure; epilepsy; hydrocephalus; focal neurological deficit; vaccine; corticosteroid; dexamethasone
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2021-03-26
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
CC BY 4.0
DOI
10.14288/1.0396408
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/77654
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Other UBC; Infectious Diseases, Division of; Medicine, Department of; Pediatrics, Department of
Citation
Microorganisms 9 (3): 535 (2021)
Publisher DOI
10.3390/microorganisms9030535
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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CC BY 4.0