ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF COMPLICATIO NS IN INFANTS WITH OR AFTERMENINGOENCEPHALITIS

Question: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of sono graphy in diagnosing complications of infections of the central nervou s system in newborns and infants. Methods: From 1980-1990 14 patients with prenatal infections, 81 infants with proven bacterial and 19 infa nts with aseptic i. e. viral meningitis were investigated by real-time sonography, pulsed and colour coded Doppler sonography during acute i llness. Ages ranged from 1 day to 12 months. Results: The spectrum of sonographic features included marked ventriculomegaly (26 patients), e xtracerebral fluid collections (24 patients), periventricular focal or stripe-like echogenicities in the region of the basal ganglia (11 pat ients), ventriculitis (10 patients), isolated porencephalic cysts (6 p atients), multiple cystic encephalomalacia (5 patients) and abscess fo rmation (3 patients). These features with the exception of extracerebr al fluid collections were more often recorded in newborns with bacteri al meningitis and in children with prenatal infections. Conclusions: U ltrasonography is a safe and accurate method for the detection of comp lications of congenital and acquired infections of the central nervous system in infants. Our results recommend that an ultrasonographic exa mination should be done at the time of diagnosis of congenital and acq uired central nervous system infections. A follow-up sonogram should b e performed after 1 week and before discharge. In addition, a repeated sonographic investigation is indicated if complications occur or if t he effectiveness of therapeutic interventions has to be checked.