Al- Anbar Medical Journal

Abstract

AbstractObjective: The main objective of the present study was to find out risk factors of meningitis in children below 5 years in Al-Ramadi Maternity and children Hospital in a trial to control this important disease. Materials and Methods: Over a period of 3 years (from 1st.January/2005 to 31/December 2007) , 336 children under 5 years of age were admitted to the Maternity and children hospital in Ramadi city with symptoms and signs suggestive of meningitis.Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) general examination for cells, protein and sugar, as well as CSF culture were done for all suspected cases for searching of meningitis.Each child with positive CSF finding(increase cells more than 25 in neonate and more than 5 beyond neonate) was studied for the following: Age of patient, Sex, Residency, Type of feeding, Recent upper respiratory tract infection, History of head trauma, History of antibiotics during illness, Family history for Crowding, Education, Economic status, Animal breeding, Smoking, Water supply, and Family history of meningitis. Results: One hundred twenty cases proved to be cases of meningitis according to CSF result ( increase cell count more than 5) Sixty - six (55%) case had positive culture while 54 (45%) were culture negative(48 of culture negative received antibiotics). Age, urban residency, crowding, low economic state, bottle feeding, passive smoking, recent upper respiratory tract infection were found to be significant risk factors for developing meningitis, while sex, water supply, Maternal education, head trauma, Family history of meningitis, and animal breeding were found not to be significant risk factors.Conclusion: meningitis is an important problem in Al-Ramadi city, age, urban residence, over crowding, recent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, bottle feeding, passive smoking, and poverty are important risk factors for meningitis.