OBJECTIVE: Significant neurodevelopmental sequelae are known to occur after acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). This study determined the burden of such sequelae in Pakistani children aged <5 years to guide policies for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal vaccination. STUDY DESIGN: Cases of ABM were recruited from hospital-based surveillance and assigned to 1 of 3 etiologic groups (Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or unknown etiology). Two age-matched controls were recruited for each case. Six months after enrollment, each case underwent neurologic history and examination, neurodevelopmental evaluation, and neurophysiological hearing test. Controls were assessed in parallel. RESULTS: Of 188 cases, 64 (34%) died. Mortality among subgroups were 7 (27%), 14 (28%), and 43 (39%) for Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and unknown etiology, respectively. Eighty cases and 160 controls completed the assessments. Sequelae among cases included developmental delay (37%), motor deficit (31%), hearing impairment (18.5%), epilepsy (14%), and vision impairment (14%). Sequelae were higher after pneumococcal meningitis (19, 73%) compared with Hib meningitis (8, 53%). Compared with controls, cases were at significantly higher risk for all sequelae (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: ABM causes a substantial long-term burden of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Hib and pneumococcal vaccines are very effective interventions to prevent meningitis and its disabling sequelae.
OBJECTIVE: Significant neurodevelopmental sequelae are known to occur after acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). This study determined the burden of such sequelae in Pakistani children aged <5 years to guide policies for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal vaccination. STUDY DESIGN: Cases of ABM were recruited from hospital-based surveillance and assigned to 1 of 3 etiologic groups (Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or unknown etiology). Two age-matched controls were recruited for each case. Six months after enrollment, each case underwent neurologic history and examination, neurodevelopmental evaluation, and neurophysiological hearing test. Controls were assessed in parallel. RESULTS: Of 188 cases, 64 (34%) died. Mortality among subgroups were 7 (27%), 14 (28%), and 43 (39%) for Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and unknown etiology, respectively. Eighty cases and 160 controls completed the assessments. Sequelae among cases included developmental delay (37%), motor deficit (31%), hearing impairment (18.5%), epilepsy (14%), and vision impairment (14%). Sequelae were higher after pneumococcal meningitis (19, 73%) compared with Hib meningitis (8, 53%). Compared with controls, cases were at significantly higher risk for all sequelae (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: ABM causes a substantial long-term burden of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Hib and pneumococcal vaccines are very effective interventions to prevent meningitis and its disabling sequelae.
Authors: Morgan Congdon; Hwanhee Hong; Rebecca R Young; Coleen K Cunningham; Leslie A Enane; Tonya Arscott-Mills; Francis M Banda; Mamiki Chise; Keneilwe Motlhatlhedi; Kristen Feemster; Sweta M Patel; Sefelani Boiditswe; Tiroyaone Leburu; Samir S Shah; Andrew P Steenhoff; Matthew S Kelly Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Sadia Shakoor; Furqan Kabir; Asif R Khowaja; Shahida M Qureshi; Fyezah Jehan; Farah Qamar; Cynthia G Whitney; Anita K M Zaidi Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-06-03 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Christina W Obiero; Neema Mturi; Salim Mwarumba; Moses Ngari; Charles Newton; Michael Boele van Hensbroek; James Alexander Berkley Journal: Arch Dis Child Date: 2020-08-20 Impact factor: 3.791