FREQUENCY OF IMMEDIATE COMPLICATIONS OF MENINGITIS IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To find the frequency of immediate complications of meningitis in the pediatric population

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital in the district of Peshawar from 1^st September 2022 to 31^st August 2023. The sampling technique was a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The sample size was 197 which was calculated by using the EPI calculator. Patients with a diagnosis of meningitis as well as those who agreed to participate in our study were included. A suspected case of meningitis and those Parents who did not provide consent for their children were excluded from our research. A structured questionnaire was used which was filled out by the authors themselves after reviewing all those reports and examinations. For statistical analysis, we use SPSS v.20 was used.

Results: The total number of patients was 197. The mean age, weight, and occipital frontal circumference of our patient were 2.84±2.33 years, 13.06±7.65 kilograms, and 47.51±5.54 centimeters. Male were 107(54.3%) while female were 90(45.7%). 58.88% of the 197 cases of meningitis that were confirmed had an immediate complication which Hydrocephalus has been recorded as one of the most prevalent complications, accounting for 19.8%.

Conclusion: In our study Notably, the highest incidence of complications was observed among patients diagnosed with tuberculosis meningitis, as 90% of TBM developed complications. Among the complications assessed in our study, overall hydrocephalus emerged as the most frequently reported one.