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Table 1 Characteristics of pediatric patients with cryptococcal meningitis
| Characteristic | Patients without underlying diseases (%) (n = 17) | Patients with underlying diseases* (%) (n = 6) | Total [no.(%)] (n = 23) | Pvalue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 11 (78.6) | 3 (50.0) | 14 (78.6) | 0.643 |
| Age, years | 0.835 | |||
| 0-5 | 3 (17.6) | 1 (16.7) | 4 (17.4) | |
| 5-10 | 5 (29.4) | 1 (16.7) | 6 (26.1) | |
| 10-15 | 7 (41.2) | 2 (33.3) | 9 (39.1) | |
| 15-17 | 2 (11.8) | 2 (33.3) | 4 (17.4) | |
| Geographic location | ||||
| Rural area | 13 (76.5) | 4 (66.7) | 17 (73.9) | 0.632 |
| Date of illness onset | 0.444 | |||
| December-February | 5(29.4) | 0(0.0) | 5 (21.7) | |
| March-May | 3(17.6) | 1(16.7) | 4 (17.4) | |
| June-August | 7(41.2) | 3(50.0) | 10 (43.5) | |
| September-November | 2(11.8) | 2(33.3) | 4 (17.4) | |
| Contact with birds/droppings or saprophytes† | 12 (70.6) | 6 (100.0) | 18 (78.3) | 0.274 |
| Time from illness onset to hospitalization (days) | 0.093 | |||
| 1-10 | 2 (11.8) | 1 (16.7) | 3(13.0) | |
| 10-20 | 2 (11.8) | 1 (16.7) | 3 (13.0) | |
| 20-30 | 11 (78.6) | 1 (16.7) | 12 (52.2) | |
| ≥30 | 2 (11.8) | 3 (66.7) | 5 (21.7) | |
| Clinical symptoms and signs | ||||
| Fever (≥39°C) | 8 (47.1) | 5 (83.3) | 13 (56.5) | 0.179 |
| Headache | 13 (76.5) | 5 (83.3) | 18 (78.3) | 1.000 |
| Nausea | 9 (52.9) | 5 (83.3) | 14 (78.6) | 0.340 |
| Altered mental status | 10 (58.8) | 3 (50.0) | 13 (56.5) | 1.000 |
| Vomiting | 10 (58.8) | 2 (33.3) | 12 (52.2) | 0.371 |
| Seizures | 6 (35.3) | 4 (66.7) | 10 (43.5) | 0.341 |
| Meningeal signs | 5 (29.4) | 3 (50.0) | 8 (34.8) | 0.621 |
| Neck stiffness | 6 (35.3) | 1 (16.7) | 7 (30.4) | 0.621 |
| Hearing damage | 3 (17.6) | 1 (16.7) | 4 (17.4) | 1.000 |
| Visual damage | 3 (17.6) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (13.0) | 0.539 |
| Bregmatic eminence | 1 (5.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.3) | 1.000 |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| Blood leukocytosis (≥15 × 109/L) | 15 (65.2) | 5 (83.3) | 20 (87.0) | 1.000 |
| Decreased CSF glucose (<3.1 mmol/L) | 16 (94.1) | 4 (66.7) | 20 (87.0) | 0.155 |
| Pleocytosis (×106/L) | 0.483 | |||
| <10 | 4 (23.5) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (17.4) | |
| 10-100 | 7 (41.2) | 2 (33.3) | 9 (39.1) | |
| ≥100 | 6 (35.3) | 4 (66.7) | 10 (43.5) | |
| Elevated CSF proteins (≥0.45 g/L) | 10 (58.8) | 5 (83.3) | 15 (65.2) | 0.369 |
| Intracranial pressure(>250 mm H2O) | 14(82.4) | 3(50.0) | 17 (73.9) | 0.279 |
