CLINICAL PROFILE OF TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS PATIENTS PRESENTING TO A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE: A CROSS SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Shabeer Ahmad Paul, Shagufta Yousuf and Showkat Hussain Tali*

ABSTRACT

Background: Failure to recognize tuberculous meningitis in time and not to start treatment early results in high morbidity and mortality. Understanding the clinical presentation in a certain population is essential for planning best possible patient care. Aim: To understand the clinical profile of the patients of tuberculous meningitis for the better patient care. Methods: Sixty nine patients were enrolled for the study. History, clinical examination, CSF examination and ophthalmological examination were carried out and recorded in a predesigned proforma. Results: Majority of the registered patients (71%) was in the age group of 15 to 45 years and presented with acute symptoms of less than 2 weeks of duration (42%). Incidence of tuberculous meningitis was similar in males and females (53.6% v/s 46.4%). Only one third of the patients presented with definitive diagnoses and more than a third (39.1%) were having severe disease at presentation. Headache, fever and vomiting were the most common symptoms at presentation while as the most common clinical sign was nuchal rigidity. Most common motor deficit was paraparesis and the cranial nerve most commonly involved was cranial nerve VI. Conclusion: Most of the patient with tubercular meningitis present acutely. Headache and fever being most common symptoms while as nuchal rigidity, paraperesis and involvement of the cranial never VI being the most common neurological signs at the time of presentation.

Keywords: Tuberculous Meningitis, Clinical Profile, Cerebrospinal Fluid.