ABSTRACT
In this work, 48 cases presented with meningitis were studied. The collection of the cases was during six-month-period [from December to May 1988]. The age ranged between two months and fifteen years. According to age distribution, the majority of the cases were in the age group two months-one year [19 cases]. Pyogenic infections were the cause in thirty- two cases, tuberculous meningitis was present in nine cases and viral meningitis was the cause in seven cases. CSF examination revealed meningococcal infection in 25% of the studied cases, TB in 18.7% and viral infection in 14.6%. The other organisms isolated were pneumococci [6.3%], gram -ve bacilli [6.3%] and mixed infections [4.1%]. A considerable number of cases [25%] proved to be due to pyogenic infection but no organisms could be isolated. The presenting features in order of frequency were fever, signs of meningeal irritation, impaired sensorium, motor system affection, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, convulsions, cranial nerves affection, loss of sphincteric control, conjugate eye deviation and cerebellar manifestations. There was no significant difference in the presenting features between pyogenic, TB and viral cases. It was observed that convulsions were more common the younger the age, while signs of increased intracranial pressure were more common the older the age. The CSF findings were discussed