Late psychological consequences of cerebrospinal meningitis in children 5-13 years old

Abstract

Follow-up data of 175 full-term 5 to 13-year-old children were analysed. The experi mental group consisted of 85 children who had cerebrospinal meningitis before their second birthday. Two control groups consisted of 190 children who had no sign of nervous disease in postnatal life; 100 of these children had a history of complicated pregnancy and/or course of neonatal period. In 90 children the course of pre- and perinatal periods was uncomplicated. Psychological examinations concentrated upon evaluating intelligence (using WISC), visual perception (the Bender test) and psycho motoric drive (observations, proofs of immobility and data from interviews with one or both parents). Results of the study indicate that children with cerebrospinal men ingitis suffered before their second birthday usually had disturbed cognitive develop ment (achieved lower levels of intelligence development, often demonstrated serious discrepancies between Verbal and Performance DQs, had delayed and/or disturbed perceptual development) and showed drive disturbances. Developmental delays and disturbances found in children with a history of cerebrospinal meningitis were the results of damage to their CNS. The author believes that serious developmental delays and disturbances were rather the consequences of pathologies in the course of pre- and perinatal periods, as well as genetic irregularities, than diseases suffered in the past per se.