Comparison of cerebrospinal fluid in newborns and in infants ≤2 months old with or without meningitis

• Published in: Pediatrics international 2012-06, Vol.54 (3), p.336-340
• Main Authors: Tarvij Eslami, Saeedeh, Nassirian, Hossain, Mojgan, Bayat Mokhtary, Bahieh, Zarif Zakerian, Elham, Hatami, Alimohamad, Nassirian, Ehsan, Sobhani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Babies; Body fluids; Case-Control Studies; cerebrospinal fluid; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medical diagnosis; Meningitis; Meningitis - cerebrospinal fluid; newborn; Pediatrics
• ISSN: 1328-8067; 1442-200X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2011.03551.x

Background:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics and accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters for neonatal meningitis, by comparing CSF data in newborns and in infants ≤2 months of age, with or without meningitis. Methods:  This case–control study was performed on 120 newborns and infants ≤2 months old. 60 patients with meningitis were considered as the case group and 60 ill patients without meningitis were defined as the control group. Each of the two groups was divided into 0–1 months and 1–2 months old. CSF characteristics were compared in newborns in the case and control groups; in infants ≤2 months old in the case and control groups; and in healthy newborns and healthy infants ≤2 months old. Results:  The mortality rate was 16.7% in the case group. The differences of CSF parameters in the case and control groups were mostly not significant, except for CSF glucose only in term newborns