In the countries of the African “meningitis belt,” acute bacterial meningitis is generally treated in basic healthcare facilities by health workers who may have limited technical ability and few resources. In conditions like these, it might be expected that there would be a higher incidence of the sequellae of meningitis, which are not usually reported, than in developed countries. Since there is no data to confirm this, a study has been planned to study the frequency and types of after-effects that can be observed in patients with confirmed meningitis in Niger and in Burkina Faso.
The trial protocol has already been revised to take into account the criticisms of the scientific council in 2007, and is now being finalised by the CERMES team. It will then be revised and finalised in coordination with AMP. The trial design is based on exposed (cases of meningitis confirmed to be meningococcal) versus non‑exposed (subjects not affected by meningitis) groups. To respond to the recommendations given by the scientific council in May 2007, the psychological and psychiatric dimension of the after-effects has been considered, and a psychiatrist from Niamey has been involved in preparing the protocol.
The sample size will be 150 meningitis patients and 150 non-exposed control subjects. One of the possible limitations of the study will be the incidence of meningitis as it varies from one year to the next and might not be sufficient to recruit the number of expected cases of meningitis.
