Predicting factors and prevalence of meningitis in patients with first seizure and fever aged 6 to 18 months

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate predicting factors and prevalence of meningitis in patients with first seizure and fever aged 6-18 months old. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 800 patients aged 6-18 months old who had first attack of seizure with fever between March 2005 and March 2012 in the pediatric ward of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. RESULTS: Among 800 patients, lumbar puncture (LP) was performed in 453 (56.6%) patients, of whom 80 cases had meningitis (17.6% of LP patients). Postictal drowsiness (p=0.003), neurologic deficit (p=0.000), and body temperature ≥38.5°C (p=0.035) were among the clinical signs, which were statistically significant predicting factors for meningitis. Laboratory tests including white blood count (WBC) ≥15000 mm(3) (p=0.004), and hemoglobin (Hb) <10.5 gr/dl (p=0.020) also had statistical significance in predicting meningitis. CONCLUSION: Postictal drowsiness, neurological deficit, body temperature ≥38°5C, WBC ≥15000 mm(3), and Hb <10.5 gr/dl were clinical and laboratory factors predictive of meningitis in cases with first attack of seizure and fever.