Pediatric tuberculous meningitis

Pediatric tuberculous meningitis is a lesion of the pia mater, arachnoid, brain parenchyma, and cerebrovascular disease caused by tuberculosis bacteria invading the central nervous system. It is more common in children under 5 years of age. The source of infection is mainly from adults with open tuberculosis. The transmission route is mainly from the respiratory tract. It usually develops within 6 months to 1 year after initial infection with tuberculosis. It is the most serious type of tuberculosis in children. The early symptoms are atypical, which can be manifested as poor appetite, gradual weight loss, sweating after falling asleep, long-term irregular low fever, untimely diagnosis and treatment, and gradually worsening the condition to high fever, convulsions, coma, and even death. If the disease is not treated with anti-TB drugs, the mortality rate is 100%. Since the BCG vaccination and the application of anti-TB drugs, the incidence and mortality of tuberculous meningitis have decreased significantly. But the diagnosis is not timely and the treatment is improper, the mortality and sequelae are still high.