Aggiornamento
La meningite nel neonato e nel piccolo lattante
Meningitis in Newborns and young infants
Luca Bedetti1, Alessandro Baraldi1, Federica Leone1, Lucia Marrozzini1, Lorenzo Iughetti1,2, Laura Lucaccioni3, Alberto Berardi3
11Scuola di Specializzazione in Pediatria, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena
22UO di Pediatria; 33UO di Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche Materno-Infantili e dell’Adulto, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Modena
Aprile 2018 - pagg. 223 -228
Abstract
Bacterial meningitis may cause long term disabilities or death, particularly at younger
ages. Early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic therapy are essential for improving outcome.
The diagnosis of meningitis in newborns and young infants is a challenge because
symptoms and signs are frequently vague and non-specific, in particular at the onset of
the disease. Cerebrospinal fluid culture and analysis remain nowadays the gold standard
for diagnosis. Clinicians often defer lumbar puncture because of concerns of complications,
although data concerning the risks of lumbar puncture at younger ages are
poorly defined. Perhaps a combination of laboratory markers and selected clinical
symptoms at the onset of meningitis would identify neonates with higher risk of meningitis
who should necessarily undergo lumbar puncture. Currently, clinicians should be
aware that the advantage of an early diagnosis of meningitis through lumbar puncture
overcomes the risks related to the procedure.
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Corrispondenza: berardi.alberto@policlinico.mo.it