Predicting factors and prevalence of meningitis in patients with first seizure and fever aged 6 to 18 months.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate predicting factors and prevalence of meningitis in patients with first seizure and fever aged 6-18 months old. METHODS This cross-sectional study was performed on 800 patients aged 6-18 months old who had first attack of seizure with fever between March 2005 and March 2012 in the pediatric ward of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. RESULTS Among 800 patients, lumbar puncture (LP) was performed in 453 (56.6%) patients, of whom 80 cases had meningitis (17.6% of LP patients). Postictal drowsiness (p=0.003), neurologic deficit (p=0.000), and body temperature >/=38.5&#730;C (p=0.035) were among the clinical signs, which were statistically significant predicting factors for meningitis. Laboratory tests including white blood count (WBC) >/=15000 mm3 (p=0.004), and hemoglobin (Hb) <10.5 gr/dl (p=0.020) also had statistical significance in predicting meningitis. CONCLUSION Postictal drowsiness, neurological deficit, body temperature >/=38.5&#730;C, WBC >/=15000 mm3, and Hb <10.5 gr/dl were clinical and laboratory factors predictive of meningitis in cases with first attack of seizure and fever.