The Uninvited Guest: Escherichia coli Meningoencephalitis in an Immunocompetent Child

• Dr Yugali Kore Kore

  VIMS

  Author

• Dr Nishchay Agrawal

  Author

• Dr Mayank Anand

  Author

• Dr Sachin Shaha

  Author

• Dr Arpan Doshi

  Author

Escherichia coli is a well-recognized cause of neonatal meningitis, but its occurrence beyond infancy—particularly in immunocompetent older children—is exceedingly uncommon. We report a previously healthy twelve-year-old male who presented with high-grade fever, headache, vomiting, seizures, behavioral changes, non-fluent speech and altered sensorium along with hematuria. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis demonstrated mild lymphocytic pleocytosis with raised protein and normal glucose. Multiplex CSF PCR detected Escherichia coli K1. MRI Brain was reported normal. The child improved with intravenous ceftriaxone, dexamethasone, antiepileptics, and supportive care.

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