Tuberculous meningitis: A retrospective survey of 22 cases

Abstract

Clinical and biological findings likely to constitute prognostic factors were analyzed in a retrospective survey of 22 cases of tuberculous meningitis. In particular, associations between clinical and biological findings (clinical grade on admission, normal and abnormal CSF protein and glucose values) and outcome of illness were sought. On admission 16 patients had altered consciousness, 11 hemiparesis and 7 sixth cranial nerve paresis. Meningeal signs were present in all subjects. 7 had a positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 9 patients recovered completely, 7 had serious late sequelae, 6 died. Prognosis appeared to be correlated to neurological status at admission.

Infectious disease in asylums: a fact-finding investigation to prevent tuberculosis contagion in the early twentieth century in Italy

“…It is interesting to underline that the treatises on psychiatry of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries highlighted the close connection between neuropsychiatric disorders and TB [ 3 ]. Indeed, in some scientific articles, some mental alterations diagnosed with TB were indicated as “tuberculous madness”.…”