Key result
Among 20 children treated for Hib meningitis, 45% achieved permanent defervescence within 4 days, while secondary (25%), persistent (5%), and prolonged fever (25%) prolonged hospital stays.
Why the study?
What are the outcomes and febrile complications in children treated for Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis?
Observational (n=20)
What are the outcomes and febrile complications in children treated for Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis?
Febrile episodes frequently complicate the treatment of Hib meningitis in children, significantly prolonging hospital stays and highlighting the need for optimized therapies.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Small retrospective Hib meningitis series offers limited treatment insights; leaves open need for prospective trials to define optimal regimens.
Aim: In this retrospective study, 20 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis were analysed to assess the outcome of treatment. Methods: Bacteriologically proven cases of meningitis due to Hib were included in this study. The clinical and relevant laboratory data were retrieved from the hospital files. Results: Thirteen patients were treated with a combination of cefotaxime and ampicillin, 4 with cefotaxime, 2 with ceftriaxone and 1 with a combination of ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Only 9 children received concomitant dexamethasone. Nine (45%) cases experienced permanent defervescence within 4 days of admission and were discharged from the hospital after an average stay of 10.5 days. The overall rates of secondary (25%), persistent (5%) and prolonged fever (25%) were observed with an average number of days in hospital of 20.4, 20.0 and 22.8, respectively. Conclusion: Although there was no mortality, there is still a need for appropriate short-duration therapy which will help in bringing about a decline in febrile episodes, thereby reducing cost of management and hospital stay.
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Dhar et al. (2000) conducted an observational in Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis (n=20). Antibiotic therapy was evaluated on Treatment outcome and febrile episodes. Among 20 children treated for Hib meningitis, 45% achieved permanent defervescence within 4 days, while secondary (25%), persistent (5%), and prolonged fever (25%) prolonged hospital stays.
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