Pediatr Emerg Med J.  2023 Apr;10(2):72-75. 10.22470/pemj.2022.00640.

Listeria meningitis with rapid progression of hydrocephalus: a case of a 16-month-old girl with febrile status epilepticus as the first symptom

• Kim HM
• Lim J
• Jeon JY
• Kim JH
• Hwang IT
• Yi YY

• KMID: 2540912
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22470/pemj.2022.00640

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of bacterial meningitis, particularly beyond the neonatal period. This article describes a 16-month-old girl who presented with a new-onset febrile status epilepticus, and subsequently developed altered mentality and lethargy. L. monocytogenes was detected on a point-of-care, multiplex polymerase chain reaction using the cerebrospinal fluid. On day 3, she developed a rapidly progressive hydrocephalus. Her consciousness improved after placement of an external ventricular drain. After 3-week antibiotic therapy, she was successfully discharged without residual complications.

Keyword

Hydrocephalus; Listeria; Meningitis; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Seizures, Febrile

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Rapid progression of hydrocephalus due to Listeria meningitis. Computed tomography scan on day 1 shows asymmetry of the occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle (arrow, A) and dilated third ventricle (asterisk, A). T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging on day 3 shows both lateral and third ventricles enlarged, particularly the occipital horns (arrow, B). There is also diffuse periventricular edema just posterior to the horns (asterisks, B).

Reference

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