Two year's experience of paediatric meningitis at Kamuzu Central Hospital; Lilongwe

ABSTRACT

415 patients with meningitis admitted to the children's ward; Kamuzu Central Hospital [KCH]; were studied retrospectively. Clinical features and outcome are described. Antibiotic policy was changed near the start of the study from prolonged intraveneous [IV] antibiotics to an early switch from IV antibiotics to intramuscular [IM] benzyl penicillin or oral chloramphenicol after clinical improvement. There was no suggestion that this policy had an adverse effect on outcome. Administration of phenobarbitone to convulsing children with meningitis appeared to improve outcome: