Children admitted for observation for suspected meningitis: Problems in diagnosis in general practice

Bendt Nielsen; Henrik Toft Sørensen; Jørgen Østergaard Nielsen

doi:10.3109/02813438809009322

Children admitted for observation for suspected meningitis: Problems in diagnosis in general practice

Bendt Nielsen^*, Henrik Toft Sørensen, Jørgen Østergaard Nielsen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Infectious diseases in children are common in general practice. It is crucial not to overlook a case of purulent meningitis, and the aim of the present study was to evaluate and suggest ways of improving the diagnostic ability of the general practitioners in this respect. During a seven-year period 157 children under the age of 16 years, out of a population of 10500 children, were referred from general practice to a district hospital for observation with symptoms and signs that suggested a possible diagnosis of meningitis. Seventy-eight underwent lumbar puncture, but only 14 of them received a final diagnosis of purulent meningitis. During the same period three other children proved to be cases of purulent meningitis, though they had been referred with other diagnosis. Twenty children had aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. The clinical findings in the groups of children with and without purulent meningitis were very similar, but an impaired level of consciousness and presence of petechiae were commoner in the former. Children with purulent meningitis had a significantly shorter duration of symptoms than children without meningitis. The present study could not suggest any ways of improving the referral procedures.

Original language	English
Book series	Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Volume	6
Issue	4
Pages (from-to)	229-232
Number of pages	4
ISSN	0281-3432
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3109/02813438809009322
Publication status	Published - 1988

Keywords

Children
General practice
Meningitis
Referral

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10.3109/02813438809009322

Cite this

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abstract = "Infectious diseases in children are common in general practice. It is crucial not to overlook a case of purulent meningitis, and the aim of the present study was to evaluate and suggest ways of improving the diagnostic ability of the general practitioners in this respect. During a seven-year period 157 children under the age of 16 years, out of a population of 10500 children, were referred from general practice to a district hospital for observation with symptoms and signs that suggested a possible diagnosis of meningitis. Seventy-eight underwent lumbar puncture, but only 14 of them received a final diagnosis of purulent meningitis. During the same period three other children proved to be cases of purulent meningitis, though they had been referred with other diagnosis. Twenty children had aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. The clinical findings in the groups of children with and without purulent meningitis were very similar, but an impaired level of consciousness and presence of petechiae were commoner in the former. Children with purulent meningitis had a significantly shorter duration of symptoms than children without meningitis. The present study could not suggest any ways of improving the referral procedures.",

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doi = "10.3109/02813438809009322",

language = "English",

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Children admitted for observation for suspected meningitis: Problems in diagnosis in general practice. / Nielsen, Bendt; Sørensen, Henrik Toft; Nielsen, Jørgen Østergaard.
In: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, Vol. 6, No. 4, 1988, p. 229-232.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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T1 - Children admitted for observation for suspected meningitis

T2 - Problems in diagnosis in general practice

AU - Nielsen, Bendt

AU - Sørensen, Henrik Toft

AU - Nielsen, Jørgen Østergaard

PY - 1988

Y1 - 1988

N2 - Infectious diseases in children are common in general practice. It is crucial not to overlook a case of purulent meningitis, and the aim of the present study was to evaluate and suggest ways of improving the diagnostic ability of the general practitioners in this respect. During a seven-year period 157 children under the age of 16 years, out of a population of 10500 children, were referred from general practice to a district hospital for observation with symptoms and signs that suggested a possible diagnosis of meningitis. Seventy-eight underwent lumbar puncture, but only 14 of them received a final diagnosis of purulent meningitis. During the same period three other children proved to be cases of purulent meningitis, though they had been referred with other diagnosis. Twenty children had aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. The clinical findings in the groups of children with and without purulent meningitis were very similar, but an impaired level of consciousness and presence of petechiae were commoner in the former. Children with purulent meningitis had a significantly shorter duration of symptoms than children without meningitis. The present study could not suggest any ways of improving the referral procedures.

AB - Infectious diseases in children are common in general practice. It is crucial not to overlook a case of purulent meningitis, and the aim of the present study was to evaluate and suggest ways of improving the diagnostic ability of the general practitioners in this respect. During a seven-year period 157 children under the age of 16 years, out of a population of 10500 children, were referred from general practice to a district hospital for observation with symptoms and signs that suggested a possible diagnosis of meningitis. Seventy-eight underwent lumbar puncture, but only 14 of them received a final diagnosis of purulent meningitis. During the same period three other children proved to be cases of purulent meningitis, though they had been referred with other diagnosis. Twenty children had aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. The clinical findings in the groups of children with and without purulent meningitis were very similar, but an impaired level of consciousness and presence of petechiae were commoner in the former. Children with purulent meningitis had a significantly shorter duration of symptoms than children without meningitis. The present study could not suggest any ways of improving the referral procedures.

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Children admitted for observation for suspected meningitis: Problems in diagnosis in general practice

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