Reported Cases of Adult Viral Meningitis in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital over Five years Interval

Abstract

Background: Acute meningitis is a medical emergency with a potential for high morbidity and mortality. Viral meningitis is characterized by acute onset of fever, headache, photophobia, and neck stiffness, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Spontaneous recovery is usual in viral meningitis.Patients and Methods: A descriptive case series study. A special medical forma arranged for each patient suspected with meningitis for data collection.Results: The total study sample was 66 patients. Male were (53%) and (47%) were female, with a ratio of male to female 1.13:1. The mean age was 42+18.7. A peak number of cases 17(26%) was in the year 2015. While the lowest number of cases 5% was reported in the year 2011. Patients had associated systemic conditions forming 15(23%) of total patients. Nine patients died out of the total 66 patients with a mortality rate of 14%.Conclusion: Most of cases were in the old age group because of antibiotic abuse and increased prevalence of concomitant chronic diseases. Reported cases of meningitis increased in the year of emigration of large number of population after ISIS invasion in 2015, and in 2013 due to H1N1 virus outbreak.

Keywords: Viral meningitis, chronic diseases, photophobia