Comparison of diagnostic criteria of tuberculous meningitis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and uninfected children.

Introduction: Tuberculous (TB) meningitis is sometimes difficult to diagnose in young children. The decision to start anti-TB treatment of TB meningitis is usually made on clinical grounds and results of special investigations, such as cerebrospinal fluid examination and cranial computerized tomography (CT), because bacteriologic yield is low and the results delayed.

Aim: To determine whether the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic criteria used in the diagnosis of TB meningitis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected children apply to HIV-infected children.