Tuberculous meningitis in Asian patients.

17 cases of tuberculous meningitis were seen in Leicester hospitals over a 5 year period; 15 of the patients were Asian. Treatment had often been delayed because presentation of the disease was non-specific and the cereobrospinal fluid findings were atypical. The average interval between the onset of symptoms and admission to hospital was 2 weeks (the shortest period was 5 days). Of the 10 patients admitted with disturbance of consciousness 5 died, whereas all 7 who were alert on admission survived. It is essential to exclude tuberculous meningitis in any Asian patient with a persistent febrile illness even if meningism is not evident, since patients who progress to the later stages of the disease often die or are left disabled.