Evaluation of rifampicin in the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in children.

Of the 20 patients given rifampicin and isoniazid, 19 survived and one died. Twelve patients recovered from the disease without any significant neurologic defect. Seven patients had moderate to severe handicaps which included hemiparesis in four, hydrocephalus in two,mental retardation in three, and blindness in one. There was no hearing deficit. The average hospital stay in this group was 3-1/2 weeks. Among the 13 patients given streptomycin, PAS, and isoniazid, four are dead. Only three patients recovered with a completely good condition. The remainder had either single or multiple neurologic defects. The moderate degree of nerve deafness was also observed in two patients.