Presentation of Acute Meningitis Over Five Years Study in AlYarmouk Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objectives : Acute meningitis is life threatening medical condition. This study is to evaluate the rate of

acute meningitis over five years, causative microorganism, mortality rate and its relation to age group, its

prognosis so we can reflect the health status of the hospital and how to improve it.

Methods : All patients were adults presented with full blown picture of acute meningitis admitted to Al

Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, infectious ward with isolation capability ,full investigations done and proved

they had acute meningitis received proper therapy followed up during hospital admition and data studied and

analyzed over 5 years ( 1\11\2011 – 1\11\2016) .

Results : Total patients were 130 patients, (69)53% of them were male patients and (61) 47% were

female. According to The pathogenic causes viral meningitis (66)51% , bacterial meningitis (45) 39% and

tuberculoses meningitis (19)15% so the highest rate were viral then bacterial meningitis and least causative

were tuberculose .The higher rate of mortality were among viral meningitis 8(11%) then bacterial meningitis

3 (7%) and least were tuberculoses meningitis 2 (6.3%).The least number of patients were in 2011 and

highest number were in 2016 .

Conclusion : Acute meningitis occur yearly in Baghdad capital city of Iraq that mean acute meningitis is

endemic in Iraq. Viral cause is the most common cause then bacterial and least tuberculoses, there were no

significant difference in male to female ratio, 13 (10%) patients died which considered as high percent in

spite of rapid diagnosis and good treatment the highest rate of mortality were among viral then bacterial and

least among tuberculosis meningitis. There were strong relation between occurrence of acute viral meningitis

and epidemic of swine influenza .