TB Meningitis Acute Phase

[ABenjamin]

My brother in law is in the hospital with TB meningitis. He was admitted 5 weeks ago with meningitis. When the TB Meningitis diagnosis was discoverd a week later he was already in a comatose state. It has been almost 4 weeks since the TB medication was started and he has not improved. From the most recent MRI, the inflammation and infection to the brain and spinal cord seem to be worse. He continues to breathe on a ventilator, has a feeding tube, is unable to follow commands and his intracranial pressure is still elevated. He is scheduled to receive a permanent shunt in his brain this morning. He has run a fever off an on, his respiratory rate is elevated off and on and is experiencing posturing in his limbs. Has anyone had a similar experience? Is this the normal course of TB meningitis? How long did it take from start of TBmedication until there seemed to be some improvement?

Any help with the progress of this terrible condition would be helpful. We are in a great hospital with an excellent neuro department. The problem is that they have never treated TB meningitis and are basing their treatment on studies. TB meningitis is very rate in the US.