BACKGROUND: Many studies have been performed to establish criteria for the differential diagnosis between @entity4008 . In 1980, Thome and Boyer proposed a score that has been widely used. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of this score when applied to our @entity1 with @entity693 and to evaluate the diagnostic yield after adding other laboratory tests. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the @entity1 diagnosed with @entity693 in the Hospital Ni  o Jes  s between January 1993 and February 2000. In all @entity1 , Boyer's score and the following laboratory variables were applied: reactive C protein levels, percentage of neutrophils in the cerebrospinal fluid depending on age, and the ratio of immature cells/total neutrophils in the blood. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of Boyer's score and the laboratory variables. RESULTS: Of the 476 @entity1 with @entity693 , 402 had @entity1393 and 74 had @entity4008 . All the @entity1 with @entity4008 except seven had a score higher than 3 (a doubtful indication for antibiotic treatment). The sensitivity and specificity of Boyer's score was 90 % and 99 % respectively. When laboratory variables were added, sensitivity was 100 % and specificity was 98 %. CONCLUSIONS: Boyer's score is a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of @entity693 , but its diagnostic yield is considerably increased when the results of laboratory tests are added.

[Utility of Boyer's score modified for the differential diagnosis of XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients'] @entity1393 :: ('MESH:D008587', 'Disease') :: ['viral meningitis'] @entity4008 :: ('MESH:D016920', 'Disease') :: ['bacterial meningitis', 'bacterial and viral meningitis'] @entity693 :: ('MESH:D008581', 'Disease') :: ['meningitis']
@entity4008 :: (MESH:D016920,Disease) :: ['bacterial and viral meningitis']
