In:
Journal of Child Neurology, SAGE Publications, Vol. 35, No. 13 ( 2020-11), p. 879-888
Abstract:
Neurotuberculosis is among the most severe type of tuberculosis with high mortality and morbidity in all age groups. Various sociodemographic and disease-/treatment-related factors have emerged over the years that can affect clinical and radiologic features of neurotuberculosis. Objective: To investigate various clinical and neuroradiologic presentations of neurotuberculosis. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done in a tertiary care center of northern India. The patients between the ages of 3 months and 18 years with newly diagnosed neurotuberculosis were enrolled after taking informed consent. Results: A total of 78 patients (37% males) were enrolled. Fifty-six patients (72%) had tubercular meningitis (TBM) and 22 (28%) isolated tuberculomas. Very high percentage of patients in both the groups was BCG vaccinated. In the tubercular meningitis group, fever (68%), headache (59%), and vomiting (54%) were the most common complaints whereas in the tuberculoma group, seizures (95.5%) were the main complaint and systemic symptoms were rare. In tubercular meningitis patients, cerebrospinal fluid–based studies showed cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (Xpert MTB/RIF) positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 17.6% cases, whereas on gastric aspirate and sputum examination, acid-fast bacilli were seen in 30.7% and cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test was positive in 19% patients. On neuroimaging, hydrocephalus was seen in 44.6% of tubercular meningitis patients, infarcts in 32%, and basal exudates in 12% patients only; coexistent tuberculomas were seen in 53%. Conclusion: Compared with the available literature, the present study showed a smaller percentage of children 〈 5 years of age, stage III tubercular meningitis cases, and typical neuroradiologic findings like hydrocephalus and basal exudates and more tuberculomas associated with tubercular meningitis.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0883-0738
,
1708-8283
DOI:
10.1177/0883073820938594
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2068710-2
