Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41247662›Full record

ArticleInfection2026

Otogenic meningitis in children.

Laura Lempinen, Riste Saat, Anu Laulajainen-Hongisto, Antti A Aarnisalo, Tea Nieminen, Jussi Jero

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Laura LempinenDepartment of Radiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Radiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, PB 340, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland. laura.j.lempinen@hus.fi.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8568-1997
Riste SaatDepartment of Radiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Radiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, PB 340, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2622-585X
Anu Laulajainen-HongistoHead and Neck Surgery, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5109-6944
Antti A AarnisaloHead and Neck Surgery, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0138-8532
Tea NieminenChildren's Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2157-4567
Jussi JeroUniversity of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1945-4008

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeOtogenic meningitis is a rare but potentially life-threatening intracranial complication of otitis media (OM). Our aim was to study the incidence of childhood otogenic meningitis and to compare clinical presentation, causative pathogens, diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of otogenic versus non-otogenic meningitis.

methodsCharts were reviewed for 47 children admitted to our tertiary center with bacterial meningitis (BM) between 2010 and 2020. Otoscopy and/or imaging were used to determine the otogenic meningitis ratio and the mean annual incidence was calculated.

resultsEight (17%) of the 47 BM cases were otogenic [5 males; median age 1.3 years (range 2 months to 16 years)]. The otogenic meningitis incidence was 0.3/100 000/year. The classic triad of fever, altered level of consciousness, and meningeal irritation was more common in children with otogenic meningitis (50%, 4/8) than without OM (14%, 5/36) (P = 0.042). Streptococcus pneumoniae was a more common pathogen in children with OM (88%, 7/8) than without OM (14%, 4/29) (P < 0.001), whereas Neisseria meningitidis infection occurred only in children without OM (41%, 12/29) (P = 0.036). Neurological sequelae at discharge were present in 3 (38%) children with OM. Deafness was diagnosed in two children, both with otogenic backgrounds. Three children showed long-term sequelae: 2 had deafness (aged < 2 years) and 1 had aphasia/dysphasia.

conclusionThe incidence of otogenic meningitis was 0.3/100 000/year, with S. pneumoniae the most common causative pathogen. Deafness was the most common long-term sequela and occurred only in children with otogenic meningitis.

Indexed as

Meningitis, BacterialOtitis MediaAdolescentAnti-Bacterial AgentsChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantMaleRetrospective StudiesStreptococcus pneumoniaeAnti-Bacterial AgentsChildrenDeafnessHearing lossOtitis mediaOtogenic meningitisPost-meningitis sequela

Identifiers

PMID41247662
PMCPMC12864241

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.