A prospective study on the clinical profile and outcome of meningoencephalitis in adults in a South Indian tertiary care centre.

Background: Although there are numerous studies on meningitis and encephalitis separately, literature on meningoencephalitis is sparse. In this study we analysed the clinical profile of meningoencephalitis and its clinical outcome.

Methods: Fifty adults diagnosed with meningoencephalitis from July 2014 to July 2015 in a tertiary care hospital in South India were studied prospectively and their clinical presentation, aetiology and outcome were analysed.

Results: Among 50 patients, 33 (66%) were male; 39 (78%) were <50 years of age. Fever was the most common presenting symptom in 41 out of 50 patients (82%), followed by headache (74%) and altered sensorium (62%); only 18 patients (36%) had all three classical symptoms. Twenty-eight out of 50 patients (56%) did not have neck stiffness. A majority of patients had acute-to-subacute clinical presentation. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified in 58% (29 out of 50). Forty-seven patients (94%) recovered completely.

Conclusion: Tuberculosis was the most common cause of meningoencephalitis in the studied population, often with subacute presentation, and outcome was good with early institution of antituberculous therapy.