The effect of the seasonal cerebro-spinal meningitis on the incidence of hydrocephalus in Sudanese children

Abstract

The inflammatory process of meningitis may obstruct the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid culminating into increased intracranial tension and in children before closure of their frontanel may lead to hydrocephalus. This study was constructed to find out the impact of the out break of meningococcal meningitis into the frequency of hydrocephalus in young children. We found that the peak of the incidence of acquired hydrocephalus in young children follows that of the seasonal cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) by few weeks. The age group affected by post-meningetic hydrocephalus was that below two years. Children of this age group were not included in the national vaccination program against cerebro-spinal meningitis at the time of the study, which may be the cause of their high susceptibility.