Tuberculous Meningitis in Childhood

Forty-three patients in the pediatric age group had tuberculous meningitis. Therapy included the use of adrenocorticosteroids. All four patients who were in stage 1 on admission to the hospital, seven of the 33 in stage 2, and one of the six in stage 3 (coma) recovered without gross neurological sequelas. Eight patients died, and the remaining 23 recovered, with late neurological sequelas. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment determine the prognosis of tuberculous meningitis.