Unit:
Τομέας Υγείας - Μητέρας - ΠαιδιούLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Dissertation committee:
Φρετζαγιας Ανδρεας καθηγητης Παιδιατρικής,Κωνσταντόπουλος Ανδρέας ομότιμος καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής,Αττιλάκος Αχιλλέας επίκουρος καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής
Original Title:
H αξιολόγηση των ευρημάτων του ΕΝΥ και της αναγκαιότητας της ΟΝΠ με την συμβολή της PCR για την ανίχνευση των εντεροιών στο EΝΥ
Translated title:
Τhe contributionog clinical and laboratory findings to the clinicians decision to perform a lumbar puncture with a suspicion of meningitis
Summary:
Abstract
It has not been yet answered definitely in the literature which clinical and
/or laboratory findings differentiate the bacterial from the viral meningitis
with safety. The aim of the present study was to identify if there are such
clinical and /or laboratory variables. The bacterial etiology of meningitis in
the present study was determined by using PCR. It was found that headache,
vomiting and neck rigidity significantly increase the possibility that the
patient has meningitis irrespective of its type (bacterial or viral). However,
the lumbar puncture should not be postponed in the absence of these parameters
when the clinician’s decision is reasonable as bacterial meningitis is
potentially lethal disease and the sensitivity of the abovementioned variables
for the identification of meningitis is lower than 100%.
Keywords:
Meningitis, Bacterial - viral, Lumbar puncture, PCR
