Widened sutures in childhood meningitis: unrecognized sign of an acute illness.

Disagreement exists over the time for sutural widening to occur with increased intracranial pressure in children. Twenty-four children ranging in age from 2 months to 4 years with acute meningitis had skull films upon admission to C. S. Mott Children's Hospital. Nine of the children had widened sutures on initial skull films. Sutural widening was documented as early as 2 days after onset of meningitis. Occasionally, skull films may help in the diagnosis of meningitis.