Postictal pleocytosis: A difficult diagnosis in resource poor settings

Abstract

Meningitis is a medical emergency and lumbar puncture in a child with seizures and fever is crucial for guiding further management. However, seizures themselves occasionally alter the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), making it difficult to interpret the CSF findings. Postictal pleocytosis is one such phenomenon that confuses the interpretation of CSF analysis. In areas with limited availability of investigative facilities, meningitis cannot be definitively ruled out and a diagnosis of postictal pleocytosis remains just a clinical suspicion.

Keywords

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis - lumbar puncture - meningitis