Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients on admission expressed as means (± standard deviation) or numbers (%)

Demographic characteristics

   Mean age (years)

55 ± 20

35 ± 18

ns

   Male, n (%)

17 (48)

116 (53)

ns

Clinical characteristics

   Temperature, n (%)

38.9 ± 0.2

39.1 ± 0.2

ns

   Headache, n (%)

14 (40)

158 (72)

0.0001

   Nuchal rigidity, n (%)

16 (46)

121 (55)

ns

   Seizures, n (%)

3 (9)

4 (2)

0.02

   Focal neurologic signs, n (%)

2 (6)

6 (3)

ns

   Confusion

11 (31)

31 (14)

0.01

   CGS (mean score ± SD)

13 ± 2

14 ± 2

ns

   SAPS II

18 ± 9

8 ± 4

0.0001