22 Jan 2024 • A nationwide study has unveiled alarming long-term disability risks associated with childhood bacterial meningitis.

Children diagnosed with this condition faced markedly higher risks of developing seven neurological disabilities, including cognitive impairments, seizures, hearing loss, motor dysfunctions, visual disturbances, emotional/behavioral disorders, and intracranial structural injuries, compared to controls.

Notably, the risks were especially elevated for those with Streptococcus pneumoniae infections and for diagnoses made at younger ages.

This pivotal research underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and intervention strategies to support children recovering from bacterial meningitis, with a specific focus on those most vulnerable to severe long-term outcomes.

Source: JAMA Network Open | Read full story