Subject(s)
Meningitis, Pneumococcal , Recurrence , Humans , Meningitis, Pneumococcal/diagnosis , Male , Female , Child , Child, Preschool , Infant , Diagnosis, DifferentialABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Meningitis is a potentially life threatening illness. It requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Recurrent meningitis needs detailed investigations to identify the underlying cause. OBSERVATION: We report a case of recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in a 9-year-old boy with an underlying congenital skull base abnormality. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan showed no obvious skull base defects. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a dehiscence of the cribriform plate with encephalomeningocele. The patient underwent an endoscopic repair of the bony defect and had not developed any new infections ever since. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the need to investigate recurrent bacterial meningitis with CT scan and MRI of the brain and skull base. Repair of these congenital skull base defects are mandatory to prevent the recurrence of meningitis.
Subject(s)
Ethmoid Bone , Meningitis , Male , Humans , Child , Meningitis/etiology , Skull Base/abnormalities , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Head , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , RecurrenceABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which is administered to all newborns in Tunisia, can lead to serious complications ranging from local disease to disseminated disease in a group of patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases. CASE REPORT: A 3-month-old boy presented with persistent fever, hepato-splenomegaly and multiple osteolytic lesions. He was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency disease and disseminated BCG infection. Despite anti-tubercular therapy combined with intravenous immunoglobulin, the evolution was fatal. CONCLUSION: The case highlights the possible risk of such rare yet lethal complication of BCG vaccine. In suspected cases of primary immunodeficiency disease, inoculation of BCG should be postponed until appropriate screening tests exclude such diagnosis to prevent serious complications.
