By ULY CLINIC Staff,

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Meningitis in children

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This is an infection of the central nervous system mainly involving the meninges.
Diagnostic Criteria

Children<2 months

 

Fever or history of fever or low temperature (<35.5OC) with any of the following:

 

• Irritability

• Unable to breastfeed

• Vomiting everything

• High pitched cry

• convulsions

• Lethargy/unconscious

• Apneic attacks

• Stiff neck and bulging fontanelle

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Children ≥2 months

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Altered level of consciousness, convulsions, bulging of fontanelle and Stiff neck, headache, irritability, confusion, projectile vomiting

Investigations

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• CSF for microbiology, biochemistry and cytology

• Blood culture

• Urine culture

• FBP

• RFT

• CRP

• RBG

• Serum electrolytes

• For newborns consider septic screen (ear swab, cord swab, skin lesion swab)

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Pharmacological Treatment

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For infants<3month

 

Give Ampicillin 50mg/kg/dose IV 6 hourly and Gentamicin 7.5mg/kg OD for 14 days (For treatment of newborns refer section 3) OR Ceftriaxone 50mg/kg12 hourly or 100mg/kg once daily for 14 days

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Age 3months to<18years

 

Give Ceftriaxone IV 100mg/kg once daily for 14 days OR Chloramphenicol IV 25mg/kg/dose 6 hourly and Ampicillin 50mg/kg 6 hourly for 14 days

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Last updated on 06.09.2020

 

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References

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1. Tanzanian Standard treatment guideline for children 2017 edition page 81-82