Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis (TB)
accounts for approximately 1% of all of disease
caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis but kills and
disables more sufferers than any other form of
tuberculosis. Tubercular meningitis (TBM) is the most
common form of CNS tuberculosis which causes
substantial morbidity and mortality in adults and
children. The worldwide prevalence of TB in children
is difficult to assess because data are scarce and
poorly organized. The available reports grossly
underestimate the true incidence. The developing
world has 1.3 million cases of TB and 40,000 TBrelated
deaths annually among children younger than
15 years. In these countries, 10-20% of people who
die of TB are children.