Scribd
Upload
29 views4 pages

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. It can be classified as acute or chronic depending on symptom onset. The most common causes of acute bacterial meningitis are various bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, which enter the meninges through the bloodstream. Symptoms include headache, fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental status. Diagnosis involves examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via lumbar puncture, which shows signs of inflammation in bacterial meningitis. Treatment depends on the cause, with antibiotics used for bacterial cases. Complications can include seizures, brain damage, and hearing loss.

Uploaded by

abdullmlik789
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views4 pages

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. It can be classified as acute or chronic depending on symptom onset. The most common causes of acute bacterial meningitis are various bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, which enter the meninges through the bloodstream. Symptoms include headache, fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental status. Diagnosis involves examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via lumbar puncture, which shows signs of inflammation in bacterial meningitis. Treatment depends on the cause, with antibiotics used for bacterial cases. Complications can include seizures, brain damage, and hearing loss.

Uploaded by

abdullmlik789
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and membranes


(meninges) that covers brain and spinal cord.
The most common causes of meningitis are viral and bacterial or
fungi infections transported through blood stream or from
nasopharynx or respiratory Tracts , sinusitis , otitis media
Viral meningitis most common than bacterial
Bacterial meningitis Less common but high mortality.

Meningitis can be classified as acute or chronic, depending on onset of


symptoms.
a. Acute meningitis—onset within hours to days.
b. Chronic meningitis—onset within weeks to months

Acute bacterial meningitis causes


Streptococcus pneumonia most common in adults
Homophlus influenza
Neisseria meningitides
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus group B Common in pediatrics

Clinical features
Symptoms (any of the following may be present)
a. Headache (may be more severe when lying down)
b. Fevers
c. Nausea and vomiting
d. Stiff, painful neck
e. Malaise
f. Photophobia
g. Alteration in mental status (confusion, lethargy, even coma)
Signs
 Neck stiffness
 Meningeal rash
 Increase intracranial pressure (papilledema)
 Kernig sign—inability to fully extend knees when patient is
supine with hips flexed
 Brudzinski's sign (passive flexion of the neck causes flexion
of the thighs and knees).

Diagnosis
1. CSF (cerebrospinal fluid ) examination (LP) ) lumbar puncture )
Bacterial meningitis—pyogenic inflammatory response in CSF.
Elevated WBC count—PMNs predominate.
Low glucose.
High protein.
Gram stain—positive in 75% to 80%
Aseptic meningitis— (viral meningitis) no pyogenic inflammatory
response in CSF.
There is an increase in mononuclear cells. Typically a lymphocytic
pleocytosis is present.
Protein is normal or slightly elevated.
Glucose is usually normal.
CSF may be completely normal.
2. CT Scan
3. Blood culture
Treatment
1. Bacterial meningitis
 Empirical Antibiotics therapy immediately
Cefotaxime + ampicillin + vancomycin
 Aminoglycoside if less than 4 week
 Intravenous antibiotic
 Analgesic and
antipyretic
 Steroid
 Vaccination
 Prophylaxis )rifampin or
ceftriaxone (
2. Viral meningitis
 Supportive care only
 Analgesic and antipyretic
drugs

Complication of bacterial meningitis


 Seizures
 Brain abscess
 Coma
 Deafness
 Brain damage

You might also like