Table 1

Baseline characteristics among 95 tuberculous meningitis patients assessed for headache severity.

Characteristicsn(%)
Age (mean±SD)32.54±13.9
Male44(46.3)
Duration of illness (days) (mean±SD)78.80±54.8
History of tuberculosis24(25.3)
BMRC staging
 I21(22.1)
 II41(43.2)
 III33(34.7)
Fever92(96.8)
Headache severity
 Mild22(23.2)
 Moderate22(23.2)
 Severe35(36.8)
Headache severity
 Mild22(23.2)
 Moderate22(23.2)
 Severe35(36.8)
Headache severity
 Mild22(23.2)
 Moderate22(23.2)
 Severe35(36.8)
 Intolerable16(16.8)
Vomiting76(80.0)
Seizures44(46.3)
Diplopia38(40.0)
Cranial nerve involvement52(54.7)
Hemiparesis7(7.4)
Papilledema55(57.9)
Optic atrophy16(16.8)
Ataxia7(7.4)
Paraparesis5(5.3)
Vision
 Normal84(88.4)
 Low vision7(7.4)
 Blindness4(4.2)
Neck rigidity73(76.8)
Kerning sign74(77.9)
AFB stain positive23(24.2)
Culture positive14(14.7)
PCR positive51(52.7)
Diagnostic category
 Definite53(55.8)
 Probable22(23.2)
 Possible20(21.0)
MRI findings
 Exudates38(40.0)
 Meningeal enhancement42(44.2)
 Hydrocephalus42(44.2)
 Tuberculoma35(36.8)
 Infarct13(13.7)
 Normal14(14.7)
Follow up at 6 months
 Death15(15.8)
 Good outcome (MBI >12)72(75.8)
 Poor outcome (MBI ≤12)8(8.4)
  • BMRC - British Medical Research Council, MBI - Modified Barthel index, AFB - acid-fast bacillus, PCR - polymerase chain reaction