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April 25, 2003
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Infant Meningitis Linked to Teen Behavior Problems"
Reuters Health Information Services (www.reutershealth.com) (04/24/03)
A report from London's Hammersmith Hospital reveals that teenagers who had contracted and recovered from meningitis in their first year in life were twice as likely to be described by their parents as having behavioral problems (hyperactivity, social skills, problems with classmates) compared to other children. Published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, the study indicates that children who recover from the illness might need a follow-up and, if necessary, intervention, says Dr. Harvey Macovitch, the journal's editor. The study assesses the responses of parents and teachers of 739 13-year-olds who became infected with meningitis before their first birthday, and compares them with responses from 606 teens who did not get the disease. The report showed that 46 percent of parents whose children suffered from severe meningitis reported behavioral problems, compared to 21 percent of parents of uninfected teens; even children with less severe forms of meningitis were shown to have a higher likelihood of having problems, the researchers reported.
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