Some of the common errors and problems of the physician who cares for the child with bacterial meningitis are: 1) misdiagnosis; 2) inappropriate handling of cerebrospinal fluid; 3) inadequate assessment of therapeutic responses; 4) inappropriate drug therapy; 5) improper treatment of seizures; 6) inadequate care of increased intracranial pressure; 7) inappropriate evaluation of persistent fever; 8) inappropriate fluid therapy; 9) inadequate investigation of persistent neurologic deficit; 10) overvigorous treatment of subdural effusion; 11) inadequate assessment of neurologic or psychologic im pairment ; and 12) inadequate consideration of possible underlying defects.
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