Outbreak analysis of meningococcal meningitis: A case series from a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

Authors

  • Pratiksha Khatua Fellow Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6766-908X
  • Sumon Poddar Associate Professor and In Charge of Molecular Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Barnali Das Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4603-6191
  • Sumana Kundagrami Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Sumita Basu Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Rohit Kapoor Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Hriday De Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Ashok Modi Consultant Paediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
  • Dinabondhu Sahana Junior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v15i3.59875

Keywords:

Cerebrospinal fluid reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; Neisseria meningitidis; Outbreak

Abstract

In a span of 4 months, there were 7 cases of meningococcal meningitis who presented with diagnostic dilemma and also a few atypical manifestations. A retrospective data analysis was carried out in children diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis who were admitted from October 2022 to January 2023. There were 7 confirmed cases of Neisseria meningitidis infections during the study period. The median age of presentation was 6 years (range: 4.5 months–9 years) with four males and three females. All the children presented with fever, but none had signs of meningeal irritation as such. Routine blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were also near normal. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for N. meningitidis was positive in the CSF samples of all the seven cases. All of the patients recovered completely, except that there were residues of neurodeficit in one patient. In endemic areas, pediatricians should have a low threshold of suspicion for N. meningitidis in children presenting with signs and symptoms involving the central nervous system and consider an RT-PCR of the CSF sample even if routine blood and CSF studies are near normal.

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Published

2024-03-01

How to Cite

Pratiksha Khatua, Sumon Poddar, Barnali Das, Sumana Kundagrami, Sumita Basu, Rohit Kapoor, Hriday De, Ashok Modi, & Dinabondhu Sahana. (2024). Outbreak analysis of meningococcal meningitis: A case series from a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 15(3), 265–270. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v15i3.59875

Issue

Section

Case Series