The Role of Lactate Dehydrogenase in Differentiating Between Bacterial and Non -Bacterial Meningitis in children Under Five Years in Ramadi Maternity and Children Hospital

The present study was designed to find out the usefulness of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in differentiating bacterial from non-bacterial meningitis in children below 5 year of age . A total of 177 patients who were admitted to the AL-Ramadi Maternity and children hospital, AL-Anbar, Iraq During a period of one year ( from 1st.November / 2007 to 1st.November 2008), for diagnosis and treatment of meningitis were included in the study. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from patients by lumbar puncture(LP) for diagnosis. Levels of LDH were measured spectrophotometrically in Randox commercially prepared kits and compared in bacterial , non-bacterial meningitis and controls.The study revealed that only 24 cases have meningitis. Bacterial meningitis present in 19(79%) . Of them 11(46%) with positive culture and 8(33%) with negative culture (partially treated), while the remaining 5(21%) were found to be non-bacterial cases. The study concluded that measurement of LDH levels in CSF is beneficial in differentiating bacterial from non-bacterial meningitis since it was significantly increased in bacterial meningitis