Outcome of treatment of haemophilus influenzae meningitis in children complicated by febrile episodes

ABSTRACT

Aim: In this retrospective study, 20 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib] meningitis were analysed to assess the outcome of treatment. 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. 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. 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