Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2015 Apr;22(1):23-28. 10.14776/piv.2015.22.1.23.

Clinical Manifestation of Eosinophilic Meningitis in Korean Children: A Single Institution's Experience

• Byun JH
• Choi SY
• Kim DS
• Kim KH

• KMID: 1791513
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2015.22.1.23

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and laboratory characteristics of eosinophilic meningitis in Severance Children's Hospital.
METHODS
We examined 6,335 children under the age of 18 years old who had visited the tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, and had received cerebrospinal study results between January 2007 and July 2012. The medical records of the patients identified as eosinophilic meningitis were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS
Eosinophilic meningitis was diagnosed in 39 patients (0.6%). The mean age was 6 years (range 0-18 years) and the sex ratio was 1.3:1 (22 males and 17 females). The underlying diseases and past history were neurologic disease (n=36, 92%). Eosinophilic meningitis was diagnosed in thirty-five patients who had undergone postoperation neurosurgery (90%). The most common symptoms were fever (50%), headache (20%), vomiting (15%), seizure (10%), and dizziness (5%). The average duration for recovery was five days, and intravenous antibiotics or steroids were used.
CONCLUSIONS
Manifestations of eosinophilic meningitis are similar to other types of meningitis. The most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in children was neurosurgery. Eosinophilic meningitis should be considered for patients showing fever and headache after neurosurgery. Through careful investigation, use of improper antibiotics could be avoided.

Keyword

Meningitis; Eosinophilia; Spinal puncture

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Child*
Dizziness
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils*
Fever
Headache
Humans
Korea
Male
Medical Records
Meningitis*
Neurosurgery
Retrospective Studies
Seizures
Seoul
Sex Ratio
Spinal Puncture
Steroids
Tertiary Care Centers
Vomiting
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Steroids

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Surgical distribution of 39 patients with eosinophilic meningitis. ∗V-P shunt, Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; EVD, External ventricular drainage.

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