Some epidemiological characteristics of cases of tuberculous meningitis which occurred in subjects under 15 years of age in Greater S. Paulo, S. Paulo State, Brazil, in 1982 and 1983, are studied. The cases were surveyed on the basis of official sources of information, complement by domiciliary visits. A hundred and twenty six (126) cases were identified and analysed by age, sex, source of contagion, BCG vaccination, confirmed diagnosis, hospital lethality, sequels and intercurrent events as part of the follow up. The results showed a delay in diagnosing the cases, possibly due to assistential failures; a high rate of lethality; identification of infectious focuses for the majority of the cases. There were difficulties in evaluating the protection provided by BCG vaccination and as regards sequels the most affected (83.9%) were the under-fives while the greatest lethality rate (43.1%) was found among the 0-1 year- olds. At the end of the study there were 38.9% of cases of cure; 33.3% of death; 15.1% of withdrawal, and the remaining 12.7% some were still under control and others unknown to the system of notification.
Tuberculosis, meningeal
