Table 1 Demographics, Underlying Comorbidities, and Clinical Manifestations of Patients with Tuberculous Meningitis (N = 100)

Age (years), median (percentile 25 to percentile 75)

38.0 (27.0 to 58.0)

33.5 (27.0 to 51.0)

38.0 (29.0 to 45.0)

36.5 (27.5 to 55.0)

Elderly (≥ 65 years), n (%)

8 (12.7)

2 (9.1)

3 (20.0)

13 (13.0)

Gender (male), n (%)

38 (60.3)

12 (54.6)

7 (46.7)

57 (57.0)

Underlying comorbidities, n (%)

 Immunocompromised

16/61 (26.2)

4 (18.2)

2 (13.3)

22/98 (22.5)

 Cardiovascular disorders

10/60 (16.7)

3 (13.6)

2 (13.3)

15/97 (15.5)

 Diabetes mellitus

8/61 (13.1)

1 (4.6)

0

9/98 (9.2)

 Rheumatologic disorders

6/61 (9.8)

1 (4.6)

2 (13.3)

9/98 (9.2)

 Cancer

1/61 (1.6)

0

0

1/98 (1.0)

 HIV/AIDS

0

1 (4.6)

0

1/98 (1.0)

 Addiction

13/56 (23.2)

3 (13.6)

3 (20.0)

19/93 (20.4)

Clinical manifestations, n (%)

 Headache

36/62 (58.1)

15 (68.2)

12 (80.0)

63/99 (63.6)

 Fever

40/62 (64.5)

14 (63.6)

10 (66.7)

64/99 (64.7)

 Seizures

6/62 (9.7)

5 (22.7)

2 (13.3)

13/99 (13.1)

 Altered consciousness

34 (54.0)

15 (68.2)

11 (73.3)

60 (60.0)

 Neck stiffness

27/62 (43.6)

12 (54.6)

5 (33.3)

44/99 (44.4)

 FNDs

30/60 (50.0)

12 (54.6)

6/14 (42.9)

48/96 (50.0)

 Visual problem

14/62 (22.6)

7 (31.8)

2 (13.3)

23/99 (23.2)

 Speech problem

7/62 (12.0)

5 (22.7)

3 (20.0)

15/99 (15.2)

 Paresis

20/62 (32.3)

8 (36.4)

5 (33.3)

33/99 (33.3)

 Cranial nerve palsies

16/59 (27.1)

8 (36.4)

2 (14.3)

26/95 (27.4)

 Classic triad of meningitis¹

12/62 (19.4)

4 (18.2)

3 (20.0)

19/99 (19.2)

 Symptom duration (days), median (percentile 25 to percentile 75)

10.0 (5.0 to 30.0), n = 56

14.0 (7.0 to 30.0)

21.0 (5.0 to 45.0)

12.0 (6.0 to 30.0)