Incidence and death rate of tuberculosis meningitis in latvia

Objectives: Clinical data on the incidence of tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) were collected in Latvia from 2004 to 2013. This disease has not exceeded 3% of non-pulmonary TB in the country. The goal of our research was to estimate and analyse the rates of death due to TBM.

Methods and results: There were 54 cases of TBM during 2004 – 2013. 11 patients (32,4%) died due to this disease. Tuberculosis mycobacterium in liquor was detected only 16 (29,6%) patients. We analysed the death rate due to TBM and noted the following: – 34 (62,9%) had tuberculosis process for the first time of their lives. 8 patients died due TBM as a complication of chronic TB + HIV. 30% of fatal cases had a combination of TBM and miliary TB. We observed of TBM that were resistant to tuberculosis drugs – 5 patients MDR-TB!

Conclusions: The incidence of TBM has increased during the last 10 years. We observed of TBM that were resistant to tuberculosis drugs (MDR-TB+HIV). This observation was made when multidrug-resistant TB and HIV increased 2,3 times in Latvia over a period of 5 years.