Pan African Medical Journal
Journal / Pan African Medical Journal / Vol. 41 No. 1 (2022) / Articles

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Published:

Mar 29, 2022

Keywords:

Meningitis; national district hospital; adult; Free State

Issue

Vol. 41 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Articles

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Kian Terwin

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Mari Ferreira

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Christiaan Minnie

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Kalliopy Marangellis

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Ruben Darby

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Jesse Berlyn

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Anél Kleingeld

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Shezree Tiel

Undergraduate Medical Programme, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Matthew Olukayode Abiodun Benedict

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Cornel Van Rooyen

Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Anthonio Oladele Adefuye

Division of Health Sciences Education, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Joseph Bukulu Sempa

Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: understanding the epidemiological profile of a disease in a particular region allows for proper planning of public health resources for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. In this present study, we describe the epidemiological profile of viral, fungal, tuberculous and bacterial meningitis among adults at National District Hospital (NDH), Free State province, over three years period (January 2017 to December 2019).

Methods: a retrospective, observational study of all adult meningitis cases, managed at the National District Hospital (NDH) Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa between January 2017 and December 2019.

Results: of the 236 case files reviewed, majority (93.2%; n = 220) of the patients managed for meningitis were black, as well as males (55.5%; n = 131). Higher incidence was found between the ages 20 to 49 (81.7%). Of those who died, the majority (n = 14; 63.6%) were males, in the age group 40-49 (n = 7; 31.8%), had TB meningitis (n = 12; 54.5%), were HIV positive (n = 20; 90.9%), and had CD4 cell count <100 cells/mm³ (n = 10; 45.5%).

Conclusion: our study suggests that combining information on patient demography, co-morbidities, clinical presentation, and examination findings can substantially contribute to raising clinical suspicion, leading to swift identification, diagnosis, and treatment of patients.

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 1937-8688