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A Follow‐up of 103 Children Recovered from Tuberculous Meningitis
Author(s) -
WASZHÖCKERT OLE,
DONNER MÄRTA
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1963.tb08792.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , atelectasis , incidence (geometry) , tuberculous meningitis , meningitis , surgery , lung , physics , optics
Summary A general review of the results of follow‐up examinations of 103 children who have recovered from tuberculous meningitis is presented. The length of the follow‐up period ranged from 5 to 12 1/2 years, the mean being 8 1/2 years. The age distribution of the series at the end of the follow‐up period was from 8 to 26 years, the mean age being 16 years. There were 9 cases with increased incidence of infections, according to the case history. The general health was good in 99, subnormal in 2 and poor in 2 cases. There were 4 cases of endocrine disturbance as sequelae to the disease — one case of precocious puberty (menarche at 8 years of age) and 3 cases of obesity. Roentgenological examination of the chest revealed bronchial gland calcifications in 9 cases, parenchymatous calcifications of the lungs in 33 cases and other changes (pleural adhesions, scar lines, atelectasis) in 5 cases. Skull x‐ray showed the existence of intracranial calcifications in 26 out of the 101 cases examined. Neurological symptoms of markedly varying severity were observed in 56 cases. Gross EEG changes were noted in 15 cases, minor changes in 35 cases out of the 85 examined by EEG. There was one case of blindness and another with severe visual handicap. Eight of the children were deaf, one of them congenitally, and 8 other children had a markedly impaired hearing. Mental subnormality occurred in 20 and slight mental retardation in 27 cases. Serious behaviour disturbances were reported in 3 children. The school record was below average in 18 and very poor in 14 cases. To conclude, it may be stated that most of the children had some sort of sequelae of their past illness as revealed by careful clinical examinations by different specialists. However, some 58 of the 103 examined were already supporting themselves or certainly will be able to do so when grown up. About a third (36 cases) had minor handicaps, but they will, doubtless, manage reasonably well in the future. The rest of the children (9 cases) were so severely handicapped that they will need the support of the community to exist. For details of the clinical examinations see the special sections in this same issue.