Epidemiological Trends, Clinical, and Laboratory Patterns of Meningitis Cases in Iran (2013-2023)
Background and Objectives: Meningitis is an inflammatory disease of the meninges and spinal cord. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological trends and clinical-laboratory patterns of meningitis in Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study used meningitis surveillance data from the Iranian Ministry of Health portal (2013–2023), analyzed with SPSS-27 using chi-square and logistic regression. Results: of 78181 suspected cases of meningitis 3.1% were confirmed as definitive cases (positive blood/CSF culture or PCR) over the study period. The highest number of confirmed cases was in children under five years. Geographically, most cases were in Isfahan (15.6%) and Tehran (13.2%) provinces, while Semnan (0.29%) reported the fewest. Peak incidence occurred in spring, with fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness as common symptoms. The annual proportion of confirmed cases ranged from 3.4% to 13.8% (highest in 2014, lowest in 2021). Etiological agents among confirmed cases included Streptococcus pneumoniae (16.4%), viral agents (13.1%), Neisseria meningitidis (9.1%), Haemophilus influenzae type b (3.7%), and other pathogens (57.7%). Outcomes were recovery (42.1%), death (6.6%), ongoing treatment (46.1%), and unknown (5.2%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that older age significantly increased the likelihood of definitive diagnosis (OR=1.158; 95%CI:1.001–1.339), as did bacterial meningitis versus viral meningitis (OR=1.671; 95%CI:1.514–1.844). Sex and place of residence were not significant. Conclusion: Meningitis remains a major public health challenge. Strengthening surveillance systems, early diagnosis, and preventive strategies are essential.