International Journal of Microbiology and Immunology Research Vol. 2(4), pp. 054-062, June 2014 ISSN 2327-7769 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiological profile of patients suspected with meningitis: A cross-sectional study among 1712 Egyptian patients

Ayman Yosry¹, Taha Gad², Waleed Fathalah¹*, Marwa Khairy¹, Hanan Abd El Hafez¹ and Rabab Fouad¹

¹Endemic Medicine Department and Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.

²Shebin El-Kom Fever Hospital, Egyptian Ministry of Health, Egypt.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: walfou2000@gmail.com. Tel: +2 01001472812; +20 33444921.

Accepted 6 June, 2014

Abstract

Patients suspected with meningitis can fall into three main categories including meningitis, encephalitis or meningism. Each category has its own epidemiological features; however clinical presentations can be non-discriminating in many instances. Studying the epidemiological features of such cases can help in defining more clues for discriminating these categories. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of acute meningitis, encephalitis and meningism in 1712 cases presented to Shebin EL-Kom Fever Hospital with suspected meningitis. A total of 1712 Egyptian patients suspected with acute meningitis admitted to Shebin El-Kom Fever Hospital were studied according to demographic features and disease outcome. Meningitis was diagnosed in 36.4% of cases, encephalitis in 17.3%, while the largest percentage of 46.3% was diagnosed as meningism. Meningitis was higher in pre and post school age groups. Encephalitis peak above 60 years and meningism was below 6 years. Each group showed significant male and rural area predominance (p >0.001). Encephalitis showed higher mortality as compared to meningitis and meningism. Age grouping can be useful to discriminate cases suspected with meningitis. CNS affection is a common disease in male gender, rural communities and summer season. Meningitis and encephalitis are serious diseases with lethal outcome.

Key words: Epidemiology, meningitis, encephalitis, meningism.