The Frequency of Meningitis Cases in Zagazig Fever Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background and study aim: Meningitis is the inflammation of meninges and can be life-threatening in some cases. The study aimed to determine the frequency and clinical presentations of the meningitis cases in ZagazigFeverHospital to put recommendations to assist in improving the preventive and management measure-ments for meningitis. Patients and Methods: A cross-section study included all of 70 meningitis patients in ZagazigFeverHospital, who fulfilled the selection criteria, over a period of one year from September 2016 to September 2017. The data collection sheet included demographic, clinical assessments, diagnostic lumbar puncture with CSF analysis. Results: The majority of meningitis cases were males (57.1%), from urban areas (67.1%), aged less than ten years or more than forty years, and diagnosed in winter (42.9%), especially in February. According to the CSF culture results, patients were classified into two groups; 87.1% as aseptic meningitis (group A) and 12.8% as bacterial meningitis (group B). Neisseria meningitides was the common cause of bacterial meningitis. The death rate was (11.4%), and the old age was a significant risk factor for mortality (P= 0.02). Conclusion: Meningitis is a real health problem in Al Sharkia Governorate; Neisseria meningitides was the common cause of septic meningitis. Health authorities in Al Sharkia governorate should focus their preventive efforts on the age group 40 years.