Table 3 Presenting features of 284 hospitalised children meeting the clinical case definition for CNS infection

 Symptom duration (days), median (range)

4 (1–30)

3 (1–50)

5 (1–30)

4 (1–50)

<0.0001

 Fever, n (%)

68 (100)

108 (100)

108 (100)

284 (100)

–

 Respiratory symptoms^a, n (%)

49 (72.1)

61 (56.5)

37/107 (34.6)

147/283 (51.9)

<0.0001

 Vomiting, n (%)

33 (48.5)

37 (34.3)

81 (75.0)

151 (53.2)

<0.0001

 Diarrhoea, n (%)

25 (36.8)

30 (27.8)

18 (16.7)

73 (25.7)

0.002

 Reduced feeding / eating & drinking, n (%)

40 (58.8)

62/105 (59.0)

73 (67.7)

175/281 (62.3)

0.0007

 Lethargic^b, n (%)

34/66 (51.5)

45/102 (44.1)

63/107 (58.9)

142/275 (51.6)

0.2

 Headache, n (%)

NA

NA

100/107 (93.5)

–

–

 Photophobia, n (%)

NA

NA

9/104 (8.7)

–

–

 Seizures, n (%)

47 (69.1)

86 (79.6)

18 (16.7)

151 (53.2)

<0.0001

  Generalised seizure

43 (63.2)

79 (73.1)

16 (14.8)

138 (48.6)

–

  Focal seizure

4 (5.9)

6 (5.6)

2 (1.9)

12 (4.2)

–

  Unknown seizure type

0 (0)

1 (0.9)

0 (0)

1 (0.4)

–

 Medication in week prior to admission, n (%)

21 (30.9)

39/104 (37.5)

70 (64.8)

130/280 (46.4)

0.003

  Antibiotic ^c

6 (8.8)

7/104 (6.7)

11 (10.2)

24/280 (8.6)

–

  Unknown medication

15 (22.1)

32/104 (30.8)

59 (54.6)

106/280 (37.9)

–

 Temperature (°C), median (range)

38.7

(36.5–40.3)

39.0

(38.0–40.8)

38.7

(38.0–42.0)

38.9

(36.5–39.4)

0.3

 Reduced conscious level^d, n (%)

3/50 (6.0)

12/89 (13.5)

11/104 (10.6)

26/243 (10.7)

0.5

 Bulging anterior fontanelle, n (%)

17/64 (26.6)

NA

NA

NA

–

 Neck stiffness / positive Kernig’s sign, n (%)

6/64 (9.4)

6/93 (6.5)

31/98 (31.6)

43/255 (16.9)

0.01

 Limb weakness, n (%)

2 (2.9)

1 (0.9)

11 (10.2)

14/284 (4.9)

0.01

 Rash, n (%)

5/66 (7.6)

2/102 (0.02)

3/102 (2.9)

10/270

0.2