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Table 3 Frequency of symptoms and diagnostic findings at admission

From: Treatment outcomes of tuberculous meningitis in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Number of studies

Number of patients with characteristics

Number of patients assessed

Proportion (95%CI)

Heterogeneity (95%CI)

Characteristics

Females

21

925

2384

39.9%(34.0–46.0)

2.8(2.3–3.3)

Previous BCG vaccination

4

117

286

44.8%(22.4–69.5)

3.7(2.6–5.4)

Known tuberculosis contact

4

98

298

21.6%(3.8–65.5)

5.5(4.1–7.4)

Lost-to-follow-up

9

79

1196

7.3%(5.3–10.0)

1.3(1.0–1.9)

HIV positive

16

530

1864

10.6%(4.2–24.6)

4.3(3.7–5.0)

BMRC stage

Stage I

17

534

2041

24.9% (21.1–29.1)

1.9 (1.5–2.5)

Stage II

17

927

2041

46.9%(41.4–52.4)

2.3(1.9–2.9)

Stage III

17

562

2041

26.4%(20.7–32.9)

2.9(2.4–3.5)

Diagnostic

     

Possible

11

363

1399

29.0%(21.0–38.5)

3.2(2.6–4.1)

Probable

13

583

1565

34.7%(27.8–42.3)

2.8(2.2–3.5)

Definite

14

611

1643

38.9%(32.1–46.1)

2.6(2.0–3.2)

Symptoms

Fever

14

1013

1126

89.5%(84.2–93.2)

2.1(1.6–2.7)

Headache

16

1089

1306

85.9%(77.9–91.4)

3.1(2.5–3.7)

Seisures

15

260

1369

18.5%(14.2–23.7)

2.2(1.8–2.8)

Vomiting

11

511

932

54%(40.3–67.1)

3.8(3.1–4.7)

Weight loss

8

319

611

47.9%(24.5–72.2)

3.9(3.1–5.0)

Radiological findings

Abnormal chest radiogragh

9

465

781

54.5%(42.2–66.3)

3.1(2.4–4.0)

Basilar enhancement

14

565

1100

49.5%(28.8–70.5)

5.3(4.5–6.1)

Hydrocephalus

18

511

1461

35.2%(27.9–43.2)

2.8(2.4–3.4)

Infarction

13

273

1221

23.2%(18.3–29.0)

2.2(1.7–2.8)

Tuberculoma

16

359

1326

22.4%(16.9–29.0)

2.6(2.1–3.2)

Diagnostic testing

Positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in CSF

18

588

1514

23.8%(15.2–35.3)

3.9(3.3–4.6)

Positive smear for acid-fast bacilli in CSF

14

166

1177

10.0%(5.5–17.6)

3.0(2.5–3.7)

Positive polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in CSF

10

187

978

22.3%(17.8–27.5)

1.7(1.2–2.4)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from site other than CSF

4

70

404

14.7%(7.0–28.1)

2.7(1.8–4.3)

  1. (Abbreviations: BMRC the British Medical Research Council, CSF cerebrospinal fluid)