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Neuropediatrics 2010; 41(6): 273-275
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273706
Short Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Febrile Brain Stroke and Tuberculous Meningitis: Persisting Threat in Non-Endemic Countries

K. Deiva1 , 2 , S. Sothratanak1 , B. Husson3 , L. Chevret4 , P. Landrieu1
  • 1Pediatric Neurology Department, AP-HP, Bicêtre Hospital, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
  • 2National Reference Center for Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases in Children, AP-HP, Bicêtre Hospital, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
  • 3Pediatric Radiology Department, AP-HP, Bicêtre Hospital, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
  • 4Pediatric Resuscitation Department, AP-HP, Bicêtre Hospital, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
Further Information

Publication History

received 21.11.2010

accepted 09.02.2011

Publication Date:
28 March 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Tuberculous meningitis is uncommon in western countries and its outcome is poor when it is not diagnosed and treated in good time. Here, we present a case of febrile brain stroke revealing a tuberculous arachnoiditis in a 13-month-old infant living in a non-endemic country. Thanks to prompt specific antibiotherapy, the clinical outcome was globally favourable in spite of the occurrence of an asymptomatic brain tuberculoma, which disappeared spontaneously. Although tuberculous meningitis is rare in non-endemic countries, it must be evoked in strokes occurring in a febrile context.

Key words

tuberculous meningitis - arachnoïditis - stroke - brain - infant - tuberculoma

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Correspondence

Dr. Kumaran Deiva

Pediatric Neurology

Department

National Reference Center for

Neuro-Infl ammatory Diseases

in Children

Bicêtre Hospital

78 rue G Leclerc

94275 Le Kremlin Bicêtre

France

Phone: +33/01/4521 3158

Fax: +33/01/4521 3231

Email: kumaran.deiva@bct.aphp.fr