Global morbidity and mortality of central nervous system tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the second most common cause of death due to a single infectious agent worldwide after COVID-19. Up to 15% of the cases are extrapulmonary, and if it is located in the central nervous system (CNS-TB), it presents high morbidity and mortality. Still, the global epidemiology of CNS-TB remains unknown. AIM: To estimate the global prevalence and incidence of CNS-TB based on the available literature. METHODS: We systematically searched in MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, Scopus, and LILACS databases (April 2020) and included observational studies evaluating the epidemiology of CNS-TB. Two independent researchers selected and assessed the quality of the studies and extracted relevant data. We performed random-effects model meta-analysis of proportions to estimate the pooled prevalence. The protocol of this study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42018103946). RESULTS: We included 53 studies from 28 countries, representing 12,621 patients with CNS-TB. The prevalence of CNS-TB was 2 per 100,000 inhabitants. According to the clinical setting, the prevalence of CNS-TB represented the 13.91% of all cases of meningitis and 4.55% of all cases of TB. The mortality was calculated by tuberculous meningitis due to the lack of data of other presentation, and it rose up to 42.12% in hospitalized patients. The burden of countries' TB, Human Development Index (HDI), and the prevalence of HIV were the most important prevalence moderators, especially in patients with TB. No data on incidence were found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and mortality of CNS-TB remain high, and TB meningitis is the most frequent presentation. The highest prevalence was reported in developing countries, and its main moderators were the countries' HDI and HIV infection. Our study was limited by high heterogeneity, risk of bias, and potential data under registration from developing countries. The integration of CNS-TB early detection and management into national TB programs and population-based studies from developing countries are needed for better global estimation and response.

Drug Resistance in Children with Central Nervous System Tuberculosis from a Tertiary Care Center in Mumbai.

INTRODUCTION: Central Nervous System tuberculosis (CNS-TB) is the most lethal form of extra-pulmonary TB, especially in children. In this study, we have discussed patterns of drug resistance in pediatric CNS-TB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted on 100 children at a tertiary care center. Diagnosed cases of CNS-TB were enrolled. GeneXpert MTB/RIF was used upfront for diagnosis, and in cases where TB MGIT culture was positive, a phenotypic Drug Susceptibility Test (DST) was done. Patients were divided into resistant to at least one drug (DR) and drug-susceptible (DS). Various parameters were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 5.84 ± 3.5 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.08 : 1; 14% of children had drug-resistant CNS TB (DR-CNS-TB). A higher proportion of children previously treated for TB were associated with drug resistance (p = 0.009), and those with disseminated TB also had a higher drug resistance (p = 0.002). Apart from this, the DR and DS groups had no statistically significant differences in demographic, clinical or epidemiological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Previous history of being treated for TB and disseminated TB was an independent risk factor for DR-CNS-TB. Ensuring proper adherence and compliance to anti-tubercular treatment could help in preventing the emergence of DR TB.

Neurological issues during severe COVID-19 in a tertiary level hospital in Western India.

BACKGROUND: India has the second largest COVID-19 epidemic in the world as per current estimates. Central and peripheral nervous system involvement in COVID-19 (Neuro COVID-19) has been increasingly identified and reported. This letter is the first report of the spectrum of neurological disorders observed in patients with severe COVID-19 from a resource limited setting like India. Till October 30th 2020, Noble hospital and research center, Pune, India has admitted 2631 patients of COVID-19. Out of these, 423 patients had severe COVID-19. NEUROLOGIC COMPLICATIONS IN SEVERE COVID-19 IN PUNE, INDIA: Of the 423 patients with severe COVID-19, 20 (4.7%) had pre-existing neurologic co-morbidities, with cerebrovascular disease (8 patients) being the most common. Poliomyelitis (4 patients) was also an important co-morbidity associated with severe COVID-19. Bodyache or myalgia (207/423, 49 %) and headache (59/423, 13.9 %) were the most common neurologic symptoms observed in patients. Encephalopathy (22/423, 5.2 %) and new onset large vessel ischemic stroke secondary to cerebral artery thrombosis (5/423, 1.1%) were the most common secondary neurologic complications noted in our cohort. Two cases of COVID-19/central nervous system tuberculosis co-infection were also identified. CHALLENGES IN MANAGEMENT OF NEURO COVID-19 IN INDIA: Various challenges like an overwhelmed health care system, inadequate workforce, lack of exhaustive reporting of symptoms and poor availability of neuroimaging in ventilated COVID-19 patients leads to underestimation of Neuro COVID-19 in resource limited settings like India.

Cognitive impairment in patients with central nervous system tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) in Mexico remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality; in the past 4 years, 110,681 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 1571 cases of tuberculous meningitis were reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine the neurocognitive sequelae, clinical presentation and neuroimaging alterations in patients with central nervous system tuberculosis. METHODS: A retrospective, analytical, and cross-sectional study was carried out from 2010 to 2019. Patients with central nervous system tuberculosis, with and without HIV/AIDS coinfection, were included. RESULTS: During the study period, 104 cases with a definitive or probable central nervous system tuberculosis diagnosis were included; 38% had HIV/AIDS coinfection, and 55%, various comorbidities (p = 0.0001); 49% had cognitive alterations, and 14% died. CONCLUSIONS: Although HIV/AIDS infection can contribute to cognitive decline in patients with tuberculous meningitis, no differences were observed between patients with and without HIV/AIDS. Cognitive sequelae showed improvement during follow-up with adequate management and therapeutic control of the patients.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La tuberculosis en México sigue siendo causa importante de morbimortalidad; en los últimos cuatro años, se reportaron 110 681 casos de tuberculosis pulmonar y 1571 casos de tuberculosis meníngea. OBJETIVO: Determinar las secuelas neurocognoscitivas, presentación clínica y alteraciones en los estudios de neuroimagen en pacientes con tuberculosis del sistema nervioso central. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, analítico y transversal de 2010 a 2019. Se incluyeron pacientes con tuberculosis del sistema nervioso central, con y sin coinfección por VIH/sida. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo de estudio se incluyeron 104 casos con diagnóstico definitivo y probable de tuberculosis del sistema nervioso central; de acuerdo con los criterios de Marais, 38 % presentó coinfección por VIH/sida y 55 %, diversas comorbilidades (p = 0.0001); 49 % presentó alteraciones cognoscitivas y 14 % falleció. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque la infección por VIH/sida puede contribuir al deterioro cognitivo del paciente con tuberculosis meníngea, no se observaron diferencias entre pacientes con y sin VIH/sida. Las secuelas cognoscitivas mostraron mejoría en el seguimiento con el adecuado manejo y control terapéutico de los pacientes.

Changing trends of presentation of central nervous system tuberculosis: Relative prevalence of cranial and spinal tuberculosis and drug resistance patterns.

OBJECTIVE: Inappropriate use of antituberculosis drugs and a poor compliance has led to an increase in the prevalence of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to document the changing trends in clinical presentation and drug resistance in patients with tuberculosis (TB) of the brain and the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed data from 243 patients admitted in a neurosurgical unit for surgical management of TB of the brain and spine from 2000 to 2013. To establish changes in trends, the patient population was arbitrarily divided into two groups based on their years of admission: 2000-2006 (Group A; n = 121) and 2007-2013 (Group B; n = 122). RESULTS: In the second era (Group B), there were 14.5% more patients with TB spine [from 42/121 (34.7%) in Group A to 60/122 (49.2%) in Group B; P = 0.02] with a corresponding reduction in the proportion of patients with TB brain. The number of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures remained the same in both the groups, but there was significant reduction in other surgical procedures for patients with TB brain in Group B (P = 0.0004). In patients with TB brain, the culture yield was 10/50 (20%) from tissue and 8/72 (11%) from CSF and there was no significant difference between the groups. In patients with TB spine, the culture yield was higher in Group B patients but was not statistically significant [7/35 (20%) in Group A versus 18/57 (31.6%) in Group B (P = 0.27)]. In Group A, nine patients with TB brain grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis in culture and none was resistant to first-line antituberculosis therapy (ATT), while in Group B, nine patients grew the bacilli and five had resistance to first-line ATT (P = 0.03). Among patients with a positive culture of resistant TB, all had received prior ATT (100% secondary resistance). None of the seven patients with TB spine in Group A with a positive culture had resistant organisms, but in Group B, 5 of 18 (27.8%) with a positive culture had resistant organisms (P = 0.27). Of these, five patients with TB spine with resistance, three of five (60%) patients had secondary resistance, and two of five (40%) patients had primary resistance. Overall, 10 of 27 (37%) patients with a positive culture had resistant organisms in Group B, while none of 16 patients in Group A with a positive culture had resistant organisms (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The most significant finding of our study is an alarming increase in the number of patients with TB brain and spine who have resistant disease (from 0% to 37%) with most of the resistance being secondary in nature. There was an increase in the number of in-patients with spinal TB relative to those with TB brain, though the cause for this is unclear.

Bacterial Genotyping of Central Nervous System Tuberculosis in South Africa: Heterogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Predominance of Lineage 4.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), the most severe extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis, is caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis The M. tuberculosis complex includes seven lineages, all described to harbor a unique geographical dissemination pattern and clinical presentation. In this study, we set out to determine whether a certain M. tuberculosis lineage demonstrated tropism to cause TBM in patients from Cape Town, South Africa. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded central nervous system (CNS) tissue from a unique neuropathological cohort of 83 TBM patients, collected between 1975 and 2012. M. tuberculosis lineages 1, 2, 3, and 4 were determined using an allele-specific PCR and Sanger sequencing. Of the 83 patient specimens tested, bacterial characterization could be performed on 46 specimens (55%). M. tuberculosis lineage 4 was present in 26 patient specimens (56%), and non-lineage 4 was identified in 10 cases (22%). Moreover, genomic heterogeneity was detected in the CNS specimens of 7 adults and 3 children. We could show that infection of the CNS is not restricted to a single M. tuberculosis lineage and that even young children with rapid progression of disease can harbor more than one M. tuberculosis lineage in the CNS.

Think central nervous system tuberculosis, also in low-risk children: a Danish nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) imposes a high risk of death and neurologic sequelae, particularly if the diagnosis is delayed. Children from non-TB endemic countries are particularly at risk of delayed or missed diagnosis. We aimed to investigate CNS TB in Denmark, a TB low-endemic country and where Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination is not a part of the vaccination schedule. METHODS: A nationwide retrospective case survey of all children with CNS TB in 2000-2015 identified through the National Danish TB Notification Register. We assessed epidemiology, clinical and paraclinical features, diagnostic criteria, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Nine ethnic Danes and 12 children from TB-endemic countries with CNS TB were identified. Clinical features, C-reactive protein, chest X-ray and indirect TB screening assays all had low sensitivity (19-75%). All (18/18) patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cells and 15 of 17 (88%) had a combination of at least two characteristic CSF findings (lymphocyte predominance, elevated protein and/or hypoglycorrhachia). Cerebral computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were abnormal in 10 of 16 (63%) and 12 of 14 (86%), respectively. Treatment was initiated after a median of 3 days in children from TB-endemic countries, and after 10 days in ethnic Danish children. One patient died (5%): A native Danish girl who died before the diagnosis was established. CONCLUSIONS: Children from non-TB endemic countries may be at risk of delayed diagnosis and poorer prognosis compared to high-risk children. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and characteristic CSF findings had high diagnostic sensitivity.

Obstetrical and perinatal outcome in pregnant women with extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem and a leading cause of illness and death from infectious disease. Tuberculosis in pregnancy has been associated with increased risks of prematurity and small for gestational age (SGA)infants.The present study is aimed to examine obstetrical and perinatal outcomes among women who had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was retrospective study involving patient who presented with extra pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of ten years (2008-2017)was reviewed. Diagnosed women were compared with controls in the ratio of six controls for each case. Data included age, parity and complications in the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods. The mean birth weights of infant and the frequency of small for gestation age, neonatal depression and still births were used for perinatal outcome. RESULTS: During the period of study 30 pregnant women were booked for extra -pulmonary TB. 22/30(73.3%) were diagnosed having extra pulmonary -TB prior to pregnancy and were taking ATT (anti-tubercular therapy) during the pregnancy, in 8/30(26.6%) it was diagnosed during pregnancy. Age, parity were similar in two groups. There was significantly increased incidence of oligoamnios and preterm rupture of membrane (P = 0.001). Mean gestation age of delivery in TB cases was 36.15 ± 1.8 weeks as compared to37.5 ± 0.5 weeks in low risk patients (P = 0.001). The mean birth weight of the infants of mother with extra pulmonary TB was 2324.26 ± 379.5 grams and 2712.3 ± 635.7 for control group(P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study emphasize on the need for early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis preferably before pregnancy, regular medical follow up and good perinatal care.

Spectrum of central nervous system tuberculosis: An experience from a large tertiary care institution of India.

OBJECTIVES: Central nervous system (CNS) is an important site for extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The present study evaluated the spectrum of CNS tuberculosis in a high tuberculosis endemic region. METHODS: The study included 306 cases of CNS tuberculosis. All cases were assessed for clinical evaluation and neuroimaging. All cases were followed up for 3 months. Modified Barthel index was used to assess the outcome. RESULTS: Out of 306 cases of CNS tuberculosis, 174 (56.86%) had intracranial tuberculosis, 55 (17.97%) had spinal tuberculosis, 15 (4.91%) had both intracranial and spinal pathology. Sixty-two (20.26%) patients had disseminated tuberculosis. Two-hundred and fourteen (69.9%) cases had tuberculous meningitis. Disseminated tuberculosis patients had significantly poor modified Barthel index and 3-month outcome. Culture positivity was significantly higher in the disseminated group. Ten (27.02%) out of 37 culture positive tuberculous meningitis cases had multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. On multivariate analysis disseminated tuberculosis, baseline modified Barthel index ≤12, and stage 3 predicted poor outcome. Fifty-five patients had spinal tuberculosis. Thirty-four (75.56%) patients with Pott's spine improved with antituberculosis treatment and only 11 (24.44%) patients had modified Barthel index ≤12, after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: In tuberculosis-endemic areas a varied form of CNS tuberculosis is frequent. CNS tuberculosis is often part of disseminated tuberculosis.

Bacteriologically confirmed extra pulmonary tuberculosis and treatment outcome of patients consulted and treated under program conditions in the littoral region of Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is defined as any bacteriologically confirmed or clinically diagnosed case of TB involving organs other than the lungs. It is frequently a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge with paucity of data available. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed EPTB; to determine the most affected organs and to evaluate the therapeutic outcome of EPTB patients treated under program conditions in the littoral region of Cameroon. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional laboratory-based epidemiological survey was conducted from January 2016 to December 2017 and 109 specimens from 15 of the 39 diagnosis and treatment centers in the littoral region were obtained. Two diagnostic methods (Gene Xpert MTB and culture (LJ and MGIT) were used for EPTB diagnosis. Determine HIV1/2 and SD Biolinewere used for HIV diagnosis. Confirmed EPTB cases were treated following the national tuberculosis guide. RESULTS: The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed EPTB was 41.3% (45). All 45 cases were sensitive to rifampicin. Males were predominately more infected [26 (57.8%)] likewise the age group 31-45 years with 15 (33.3%) cases. The overall prevalence for HIV was 33.6% (36). HIV infection was present in 28.9% (13) of patients with EPTB. The most affected sites with EPTB were: Lymph nodes (66.5%), pleural cavity (15.6%), abdominal organs (11.1%), neuromeningeal (2.2%), joints (2.2%) and heart (2.2%). Overall, 84.4% of the study participants had a therapeutic success with males responding better 57.9% (p = 0.442). Therapeutic success was better (71.7%) in HIV negative EPTB patients (p = 0.787). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed EPTB patients treated under program conditions in the littoral region of Cameroon is high with a therapeutic success of 84.4% and the lymph nodes is the most affected site.

Outcomes of Pediatric Central Nervous System Tuberculosis in California, 1993-2011.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to describe the characteristics and posttreatment outcomes of pediatric patients with central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) and to identify factors associated with poor outcome. METHODS: We included children aged 0 to 18 years with CNS TB reported to the California TB registry between 1993 and 2011. Demographics, clinical characteristics, severity of disease at presentation (Modified Medical Research Council stage I, II, or III [III is most severe]), treatment, and outcomes during the year after treatment completion were abstracted systematically from the medical and public health records. Patient outcomes were categorized as good or poor on the basis of disability in hearing, vision, language, ambulation, and development and other neurologic deficits. RESULTS: Among 151 pediatric CNS TB cases reported between 1993 and 2011 in California for which records were available, 92 (61%) cases included sufficient information to determine outcome. Overall, 55 (60%) children had a poor outcome. After we adjusted for age (0 to 4 years), children with stage III severity (vs I or II; prevalence rate ratio [PRR], 1.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-1.9]), a protein concentration of >100 mg/dL on initial lumbar puncture (PRR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.03-1.4]), or infarct on neuroimaging (PRR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.04-1.3]) were at increased risk for a poor outcome. In multivariate analysis, an age of 0 to 4 years (vs >4 years; PRR, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.2-1.7]) and a stage II or III Modified Medical Research Council score (vs stage I; PRR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.03-1.5]) remained significantly associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with CNS TB in California are left with high rates of disabling clinical sequelae after treatment. The identification of modifiable factors is critical for improving outcomes.

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system in cattle in Paraíba, Brazil / Tuberculose no sistema nervoso central de bovinos na Paraíba

This paper describes six cases of tuberculosis in the central nervous system (CNS) of cattle in the state of Paraíba in northeastern Brazil. We reviewed the autopsy reports of 851 bovine necropsies performed from 2003 to 2016. Seventy-three (8.6%) cattle were diagnosed with tuberculosis and six showed lesions in the CNS. Three cases affected cattle up to two-year-old and other three affected adults. Three cattle presented exclusively nervous signs, two had respiratory signs and weight loss and one did not present any clinical signs. At necropsy, five cattle had thickening of the leptomeninges of the cerebellum, pons, obex, spinal cord and cortex, mainly, in the region near the brain basilar Willis´ circle. Another animal, presented a single focal lesion in the cerebellum. Microscopically we observed moderate to severe granulomatous meningitis and encephalitis. Five cattle presented lesions in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes and three of them had disseminated lesions in other organs. In all cattle acid-fast bacilli were observed in the lesions and marked positive for immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibody anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is concluded that bovine tuberculosis of central nervous system occurs sporadically in Paraíba, in cattle of different ages, most of them with disseminate lesions in other organs. The location of the lesions suggests that the agent invaded the brain by hematogenous route through the circle of Willis.(AU)

Descrevem-se seis casos de tuberculose no sistema nervoso central (SNC) em bovinos, no semiárido da Paraíba. Foram revisados os laudos de um total de 851 necropsias de bovinos realizadas no período de 2003 a 2016. Destes, 73 (8,6%) foram diagnosticados com tuberculose e seis apresentavam lesões no SNC. Três casos ocorreram em bovinos de até dois anos de idade e três em bovinos adultos. Três bovinos apresentaram exclusivamente sinais nervosos, dois tinham sinais respiratórios e perda de peso e um não apresentava nenhum sinal clínico. Macroscopicamente, em cinco bovinos, havia espessamento das leptomeninges do cerebelo, medula espinhal, ponte, obex, colículos e córtex, principalmente, na região basilar encefálica próxima ao polígono de Willis. Em apenas um bovino houve a presença de tubérculo único no cerebelo. Microscopicamente observou-se moderada a acentuada meningite e encefalite granulomatosa. Cinco bovinos apresentaram lesões pulmonares e nos gânglios mediastínicos e três deles tinham lesões disseminadas em outros órgãos. Em todos os bovinos foram encontrados bacilos ácido-álcool resistentes intralesionais e todos tiveram marcação positiva na técnica de imuno-histoquímica com anticorpo policlonal anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Conclui-se que a tuberculose do sistema nervoso central de bovinos ocorre de forma esporádica na Paraíba, principalmente em bovinos com lesões disseminadas em outros órgãos. Sugere-se que a disseminação do agente ocorre pela via hematógena, possivelmente através do polígono de Willis.(AU)

Nitric oxide in cerebrospinal fluid of central nervous system tuberculosis: correlations with culture, antibody response, and cell count.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The role of nitric oxide (NO) has been established in infection over the years. NO functions by inhibiting the growth of intracellular pathogens. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the role of NO in central nervous system (CNS) infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 781 chronic meningitis cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples suspected of CNS tuberculosis (TB) were categorized based on M. tuberculosis culture positivity, anti-TB antibody response, and CSF cell count and were analyzed for NO. RESULTS: We found that NO levels were positive in 10.88% of the CSF samples. Positivity for NO was 18%, 11.67%, 13.68%, 9.32%, and 9.66% in the cases with mycobacterial culture positivity, anti-TB antibody positivity, high cell count, low cell count, and zero cell count, respectively. Among the above cell count categories, NO levels were noticed to be elevated in high cell count samples with mononuclear cell predominance. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that NO might play some role in the later stages of tuberculous meningitis. This is the first study to our knowledge in which NO was evaluated in CSF in relation to immune response and the presence of a pathogen with such a large number of subjects.

Risk Factors for Central Nervous System Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology and factors associated with pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB) in California from 1993 to 2011. METHODS: We analyzed California TB registry data for persons aged ≤18 years, comparing CNS TB cases versus non-CNS TB cases reported from 1993 to 2011. Factors associated with CNS TB and TB deaths were identified by using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 200 CNS TB cases were reported. Compared with non-CNS TB case patients, CNS TB case patients were more likely to be aged <5 years (72.0% vs 43.6%; odds ratio [OR]: 3.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4-5.9]), US-born (82.0% vs 58.2%; OR: 3.3 [CI: 2.3-4.7]), and Hispanic (75.0% vs 63.2%; OR: 1.7 [CI: 1.3-2.4]). Among US-born CNS TB case patients (during 2010-2011), 76.5% had a foreign-born parent. Tuberculin skin test results were negative in 38.2% of 170 CNS TB cases tested. In multivariate analysis, age <5 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.3 [CI: 2.0-5.4]), US birth (aOR: 1.8 [CI 1.2-2.7]), and Hispanic ethnicity (aOR: 1.5 [CI: 1.1-2.1]) were associated with an increased risk of developing CNS TB. For deaths, CNS TB (aOR: 3.8 [CI: 1.4-9.9]) and culture positivity (aOR: 6.2 [CI: 2.2-17.3]) were associated with increased risk of death, whereas tuberculin skin test positivity (aOR: 0.1 [CI: 0.04-0.2]) was associated with decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Subsets of children are at increased risk for CNS TB in California and may benefit from additional prevention efforts.

Childhood tuberculosis in southern Taiwan, with emphasis on central nervous system complications.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major public health problem in Taiwan. Taiwan remains a highly endemic area despite neonatal Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination and the availability of anti-TB therapy. The presentation is highly variable and it is often difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. This study was designed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and outcomes of TB in children with emphasis on central nervous system (CNS) complications. METHODS: The medical records of 80 children diagnosed with TB at a medical center in southern Taiwan over the past 24 years (1988-2012) were reviewed. RESULTS: Among them, 48.8% (39/80) had pulmonary TB, 27.5% (22/80) had isolated extrapulmonary TB, and 23.7% (19/80) had disseminated TB. Most infected cases were aged either < 4 years or > 12 years. TB contact history was found in 42.5% (34/80) cases. Fourteen (17.5%) of the cases had CNS involvement. The most common presentations were fever (85.7%), signs of increased intracranial pressure (71.4%), drowsiness (64.3%), and focal neurological signs (57.1%). The major radiological findings were tuberculoma (50%), basilar enhancement (41.6%), infarction (41.6%), hydrocephalus (16.6%), and transverse myelitis (16.6%). The case fatality of CNS TB was 14.3% and 21.4% had neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that positive exposure history and suspicious clinical presentations are important clues for further confirmatory laboratory and image studies in childhood TB. CNS TB usually presented as part of disseminated TB in children. Early diagnosis and treatment may lead to favorable outcomes in CNS TB.

Neurologic diseases in HIV-infected patients.

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy there has been an improvement in the quality of life for people with HIV infection. Despite the progress made, about 70% of HIV patients develop neurologic complications. These originate either in the central or the peripheral nervous system (Sacktor, 2002). These neurologic disorders are divided into primary and secondary disorders. The primary disorders result from the direct effects of the virus and include HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), HIV-associated vacuolar myelopathy (VM), and distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). Secondary disorders result from marked immunosuppression and include opportunistic infections and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). A differential diagnosis which can be accomplished by detailed history, neurologic examination, and by having a good understanding of the role of HIV in various neurologic disorders will help physicians in approaching these problems. The focus of this chapter is to discuss neuropathogenesis of HIV, the various opportunistic infections, primary CNS lymphoma, neurosyphilis, CNS tuberculosis, HIV-associated peripheral neuropathies, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), and vacuolar myelopathy (VM). It also relies on the treatment recommendations and guidelines for the above mentioned neurologic disorders proposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.