Variability in the Clinical Manifestations of Meningeal Encephalitis due to Tuberculosis

  • María Cristina Soto Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maracaibo.
  • Olmedo Ferrer Ocando Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maracaibo. Biological Research Institute. School of Medicine. University of Zulia.
  • Yenny Ferrer Ocando Department of Comprehensive Public Health. School of Medicine. University of Zulia.
  • Armando Hernández Pernía Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maracaibo.
  • Melvis Arteaga de Vizcaíno Institute of Clinical Research. School of Medicine. Zulia University
  • Arelis Ferrer Ocando School of Dentistry Zulia University
  • Liliam González Department of Comprehensive Public Health. School of Medicine. University of Zulia.
Keywords: Meningeal encephalitis, tuberculosis, meningeal syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract

With the objective of describing clinical manifestations in patients with meningeal encephalitis due to tuberculosis (TBC), a descriptive, retrospective study was made by reviewing clinical histories of 15 adult patients with a diagnosis of TBC in the SAHUM neurology service from January 2002 to December 2008. Age, sex, clinical manifestations, hospitalization and treatment were analyzed. Of the 15 patients, 10 (66.67%) were female, 9 (60.0%) were between 20 and 29 years of age; 53.34% came from the Mara and Páez Municipalities. The clinical manifestations were: headache and nape of the neck rigidity, 14 (93.33%); alteration of consciousness, 13 (86.67%); alteration of mental state, 7 (46.66%); convulsions, 8 (53.33%); intracranial hypertension, 5 (33.33%); motor deficit, 3 (20.00%); alteration of cranial pairs, 2 (13.33%) as a false locator sign and diplopia, 2 (13.33%). Cytochemical study of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed hypoglycorrhachia in 100.00% of the patients. Ziehl Neelsen coloration was positive in 1 (6.67%). Six patients (40.00%) had had the disease for more than 1 month. Conclusions were that the clinical manifestations of meningeal encephalitis due to TBC are diverse, with the meningeal syndrome as the most frequent.

Published
2010-08-07
How to Cite
1.
Soto MC, Ferrer Ocando O, Ferrer Ocando Y, Hernández Pernía A, Arteaga de Vizcaíno M, Ferrer Ocando A, González L. Variability in the Clinical Manifestations of Meningeal Encephalitis due to Tuberculosis. Kasmera [Internet]. 2010Aug.7 [cited 2025Jun.18];38(1):7-17. Available from: https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/kasmera/article/view/4852
Issue
Vol. 38 No. 1 (2010)
Section
Original Articles

Copyright (c) 2010 María Cristina Soto, Olmedo Ferrer Ocando, Yenny Ferrer Ocando, Armando Hernández Pernía, Melvis Arteaga de Vizcaíno, Arelis Ferrer Ocando, Liliam González

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