E-ISSN 1858-8360 | ISSN 0256-4408
 

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Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.

Taha I Yousif, Katie O'Reilly, Montasser Nadeem.


Abstract
Bacterial meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the meninges covering the brain. It is a life-threatening illness, if untreated. The aim of this study was to examine whether blood tests including C-reactive protein (CRP) and full blood count (FBC) predict bacterial meningitis in children. We also examined the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests including gram stain, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and blood tests such as culture and PCR results. We studied 11 patients admitted with bacterial meningitis in the Paediatric wards, National Children's Hospital, Dublin, Northern Ireland (2012-2016). The mean age was 10.7 (SD, 14.7) months. In this group of patients, 5 (45.5%) had leucocytosis, 7 (63.6%) experienced neutrophilia and 1 (9.1%) had both leukopenia and neutropenia. C-reactive protein (CRP) value of less than 1 mg/L was found in 2 patients (18.2%). No link was found between CSF gram stain and CSF culture (p value 0.66) or CSF PCR results (p value 0.75). Meningitis should be investigated and treated if clinically suspected, regardless of CRP values or peripheral blood results.

Key words: Bacterial meningitis; Child; Laboratory diagnosis


 
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Pubmed Style

Yousif TI, OReilly K, Nadeem M. Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. Sudan J Paed. 2016; 16(2): 77-79.


Web Style

Yousif TI, OReilly K, Nadeem M. Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. https://sudanjp.com//?mno=280620 [Access: February 07, 2024].


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Yousif TI, OReilly K, Nadeem M. Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. Sudan J Paed. 2016; 16(2): 77-79.



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Yousif TI, OReilly K, Nadeem M. Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. Sudan J Paed. (2016), [cited February 07, 2024]; 16(2): 77-79.



Harvard Style

Yousif, T. I., OReilly, . K. & Nadeem, . M. (2016) Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. Sudan J Paed, 16 (2), 77-79.



Turabian Style

Yousif, Taha I, Katie OReilly, and Montasser Nadeem. 2016. Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics, 16 (2), 77-79.



Chicago Style

Yousif, Taha I, Katie OReilly, and Montasser Nadeem. "Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.." Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics 16 (2016), 77-79.



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Yousif, Taha I, Katie OReilly, and Montasser Nadeem. "Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.." Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics 16.2 (2016), 77-79. Print.



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Yousif, T. I., OReilly, . K. & Nadeem, . M. (2016) Blood tests are not always helpful in predicting bacterial meningitis in children.. Sudanese Journal of Paediatrics, 16 (2), 77-79.





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