In this EM Cases main episode podcast with Dr. Shannon MacPhee and Dr. Jeanette Comeau we discuss the recognition, risk stratification, decision tools, indications for lumbar puncture in the febrile pediatric patient, tips and trick on performing LPs in children, and ED management of pediatric meningitis including antibiotic choices and dexamethasone. We answer such questions as: what are the test characteristics of the various clinical features of meningitis across various ages? How does one differentiate between meningitis and retropharyngeal abscess on physical exam? How do the Canadian and American guidelines on work up of well-appearing febrile infants compare when to it comes to indications for lumbar puncture? Which patients with suspected meningitis require imaging prior to lumbar puncture? Which patients with febrile seizure require a workup for meningitis? How do we best interpret the various CSF tests to help distinguish between viral and bacterial meningitis? What are the indications and timing of administering dexamethasone in the pediatric patient with suspected meningitis? and many more....



Podcast production, sound design & editing by Anton Helman; Voice editing by Braedon Paul

Written Summary and blog post by Matthew McArthur, edited by Anton Helman July, 2024

Cite this podcast as: Helman, A. Comeau, J. MacPhee, S. Pediatric Meningitis Recognition, Workup and Management. Emergency Medicine Cases. July, 2024. https://emergencymedicinecases.com/pediatric-meningitis-recognition-workup-management. Accessed December 25, 2024

Résumés EM CasesWhile pediatric bacterial meningitis is rare, it is predicted to be on the rise due to decreasing vaccination use

Thanks in large part to vaccination programs, meningitis is a rare diagnosis. Its rarity and potential serious sequelae if untreated make it challenging but important to recognize when it occurs. The estimated incidence of bacterial meningitis is only 0.4/100,000 in adolescents but increases to 81/100,000 in neonates with a mortality rate of 20% in infants and 2% in older children. Most pediatric meningitis is caused by an enterovirus. The earlier the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is made and the sooner treatment is initiated, the better the outcomes. One of the reasons we chose this topic is because there is a trend of decreasing use of childhood vaccinations in the last decade, which experts predict is likely to increase the rates of meningitis from vaccine preventable pathogens including Hemophilus Influenzae, Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Neisseria Meningiditis in the coming years. 

Understanding the pathophysiology of and knowing the risk factors for bacterial meningitis helps guide recognition and management

Sequence of steps leading to bacterial meningitis:



Bacterial colonization (most often respiratory tract/oropharynx - bacterial meningitis may be preceded by a viral infection which increase the likelihood of bacterial colonization)

Invasion of bloodstream (risk factors to consider in the pre-test probability of bacterial meningitis include: recent viral illness, smoking history, alcohol use disorder, immune suppression/immune deficiency, no or incomplete vaccinations against S pneumoniae, N meningitides, H influenza)

Survive intravascularly and interact with BBB to penetrate into subarachnoid space (main risk factors are duration and degree of bacteremia, antibiotics that penetrate the BBB are required - see below)

Relative lack of immunity within CSF space, bacterial proliferation and immune/inflammatory response (dexamethasone for inflammation - see below)