The use of antibiotics and their influence on course and outcome of bacterial meningitis in children before diagnosing it

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infective disease caused by different bacteria during which purulent pyorrhea is created in a subarachnoid space. In clinical terms, it is represented with the appearance of meningeal symptoms and signs. Neither recent years' success accomplished in treatment of bacterial meningitis nor the best organized treatment provide an optimistic prognosis in sick children. Our research was conducted in 91 children with bacterial meningitis. Before diagnosing bacterial meningitis, 50 patients ( 54.9% ) were treated with antibiotic therapy. In this group, 21 patients ( 42% ) showed complications in disease manifested with convulsions in 13 patients (26 % ). In the same group, 29 patients ( 58 % ) had a complete recovery after the treatment while 8 patients ( 16 % ) had sequele. In 41 patients ( 45 % ) without previous antibiotic treatment, complications are registered in 25 patients ( 60.9 % ) as follows: 18 patients ( 43.9 % ) had early complications while 7 patients ( 17.1 % ) had sequele. 16 patients ( 39 % ) had a complete recovery in this group. Complications and sequele are more common in the group of sick children without antibiotic therapy before diagnosing bacterial meningitis. However, the presence of sequele in the group of children which were treated with antibiotics before completed diagnostics showed that treatment of bacterial meningitis must be done in a more effective way as well as an early antibiotics treatment.

Keywords

• bacterial meningitis
• antibiotic treatment
• children