WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care [Internet]

Abstract

In line with the Defeating meningitis by 2030: a global road map, the WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care provide evidence-based recommendations for the clinical management of children and adults with community-acquired meningitis, including acute and long-term care.

Meningitis poses a significant public health threat, despite successful efforts to control the disease globally. The burden of morbidity and mortality from meningitis remains high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and in settings experiencing large-scale, disruptive epidemics. Approximately one in five individuals affected by bacterial meningitis incurs long-term complications, which may result in disability and have a profound impact on quality of life.

The guidelines are primarily intended for health-care professionals working in first- or second-level health-care facilities, including emergency, inpatient and outpatient services. They are also directed at policy-makers, health-care planners and programme managers, academic institutions, non-governmental and civil society organizations to inform capacity-building, teaching and research agendas.

Web annex A provides the quantitative evidence reports, Web annex B summarizes the qualitative and economic evidence and Web annex C presents the Evidence-to-Decision frameworks.