Bacterial Meningitis During Infancy Undermines Academic Success

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Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  ADHD;  Mental Health
Article Date: 21 Mar 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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About 25% of teens who had meningitis during their infancy will not pass a single GCSE exam at grade C, according to a study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood. (The General Certificate of Secondary Education, GCSE, exam is taken by 16 year olds in England and Wales. Results are graded A to E, and the national yardstick is to pass five subjects at grade C or above).

The study looked at the GCSE exam results of 750 16-year-olds across England and Wales. 461 of the children had had bacterial meningitis during their first year of life - 8% of these 461 kids were in special schools, compared to a national average of 2%.

One quarter of the children who had had the infection did not get one GCSE grade C or above, compared to just over 6% in the comparison group. Half the children who had had meningitis during their first year of life and went to state schools did not achieve the national educational standard of five C grades at GCSE - the rate was twice as high as that of children in state schools who had not had meningitis.

The authors recommended that all children who have had meningitis in infancy should be closely monitored and provided with continuing educational support throughout their school days.

"Effect of meningitis in infancy on school-leaving examination results"
Online First Arch Dis Child 2007; doi:10.1136/adc.2006.105916
http://www.adc.bmj.com

Edited by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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