Twelve year outcomes following bacterial meningitis: further evidence for persisting effects

Aim-To determine whether intellectual and cognitive impairments observed se ven years following early childhood bacterial meningitis persist into adole scence. Methods-Blinded neuropsychological, auditory, and behaviour assessments wer e conducted in 109 (69%) subjects from an original cohort of 158 children, seven and 12 years after their meningitis, and in 96 controls. Results-Meningitis subjects remained at greater risk than controls for any disability (odds ratio OR 4.7, confidence interval 2.2 to 9.6). Those with acute neurological complications had more sequelae than children with uncom plicated meningitis or controls (47% v 30% v 11.5% respectively; p < 0.001) . Differences in intellectual, academic, and high level cognitive function between subjects and controls were maintained at the seven and 12 year asse ssments. In contrast, lower order skills improved, while behaviour scores d eteriorated significantly (p = 0.033). Conclusions-Many of the deficits identified at the seven year follow up per sist 12 years after an episode of bacterial meningitis.