The main morbidities and mortality rates in bacterial meningitis

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis in children has high rates of unfavorable outcomes, i.e., neurological sequelae and mortality. The literature shows the clinical characteristics, the therapeutic approach, the results of MB and the factors related to them. Objective: The aim of this integrative review is to describe the main neurological sequelae and mortality rates in bacterial meningitis in children, as well as the clinical aspects that predict these outcomes. Methods: An integrative review was carried out involving 6 observational studies on bacterial meningitis in children aged from infants to 15 years, published in the last five years (period 2018-2023) and selected from the Portal Capes and PubMed databases. Result: Bacterial meningitis in children has high rates of unfavorable outcomes, i.e., neurological sequelae and mortality. The literature shows the clinical characteristics, the therapeutic approach, the results of MB and the factors related to them. Conclusion: Childhood bacterial meningitis is associated with high mortality rates and has motor deficits, cognitive impairment, visual impairment, hearing impairment and hydrocephalus as the main neurological sequelae. In addition, patients who manifest stage III TBM, staphylococcal, polymicrobial and pneumococcal etiologies, a post-neurosurgical environment, septicemia and septic shock, systemic factors and neurological problems may present unfavorable outcomes.