Bacterial Meningitis

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Description

Inflammation of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Headache
  • Neck stiffness
  • Fever
  • Seizures
  • Refusing to suck/feed/lethargy/irritability.
  • Nausea and or vomiting

Treatment

  • Supportive treatment: fever, pain and seizure control (see ref below). If GCS low, insert NGT and urethral
    catheter.

Pharmacological treatment in children and infants >1 month-old:

  • Dexamethasone 0.15mg/kg STAT then
  • Cefotaxime 50 mg/kg or Ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg daily as a single dose can be increased up to 80mg/kg as a single dose in severe infection.

OR

  • Benzylpenicillin 50 000- 100 000 IU IV 6 hourly + Chloramphenicol 50 – 75mg/kg I.V. 6 hourly.