Tuberculous meningitis in Hong Kong: experience in a regional hospital

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains common in Hong Kong. From January 1996 to June 1997, 11 adult patients with TBM presented to Queen Mary Hospital, a regional hospital in Hong Kong. The annual incidence of TBM was estimated at 1.8 per 100000 population. Nine patients were local Chinese, and only one patient had the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In contrast to the classical presentation as a chronic indolent disease, our patients presented acutely: the mean duration from onset of symptoms to presentation was 4.8 days (range 0-10). The most common presenting symptoms were headache (64%), fever (46%), or both (36%), with focal deficits occurring in 64% of patients. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were positive in 30% and 29% of cases. Mean CSF cell count, protein and glucose levels were 340 × 106/L, 267 mg/dL, and 2.3 mmol/L, respectively. Extra-neural tuberculosis occurred in 46% of cases. All patients survived and responded to treatment. Drug-induced hepatotoxicity was common; 64% of patients developed biochemical hepatitis.