Computed tomography in childhood bacterial meningitis.

Computed tomography has been applied to childhood bacterial meningitis in an attempt to analyze the structural basis for neurologic complications. The CT findings in meningitis patients include acute cerebral swelling; moderate widening of basal cisterns, interhemispheric fissue, and subarachnoid convexity space; ventricular widening; subdural collection; focal cortical necrosis; cerebral infarcts; contrast enhancing basal meninges, ependymitis, and generalized cerebral atrophy. Bacterial meningitis in childhood is more than an inflammation of the subarachnoid space. It is a disease process which often exerts a profound effect on the brain parenchyma.