Brian Infections Flashcards
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation/infection of the brain parenchyma
Most commmonly due to HSV
What are teh RF FOR ENCEPHALITLITS
immunocompromised (age, meds/chemo, infection)
How does encephalitits present?
classic triad:
Insidious onset
Fever
Headache
Altered mental status(confusion,behaviour changes, physcotic)
+focal NX signs ( Aphasia, hemiparesis, cerebellar signs)
Encephalitits DX
MRI Head - Swellign/inflammation of brain
Lumbar puncture and analysis:
Lymphocytosis + nicreased protein ~ viral
PCR ~ viral
culture ~ bacteria
Encephalitis tx
Suspecting - Acyclovir
What is tetanus?
Infection caused by clostridium tetani (gram+ Rod baccili ) found in soil and inooculates though skin
Pathophysiology of tetanus?
Releases toxins:
* Tetanolysin - destroys tissues
* tetanospasmin - intefers with neurone transmitter release and travels retrograde up axons causing involuntary muscle spasms
What is hepres zoster
Infection caused Varicella zoster virus.
Intial infection - chicken pox
reactivation - shingles - attack peripheral nerves @ dorsal root caausing painful rash along dermatome
Treat with acyclovir
what is meningitis?
Infection of the meningeal layers
what are bacterial causes of meningitis>
0-6 months - Listeria Monocytogene // Group B Strep - Agalactiae
6months-3years - H. Influenzae
1-60 years - S.Pneumoniae (Gram -)
N.Meningitidis
immunocom - Listeria monocytogene
what are viral causes of meningitis
HSV
Coxsackie
What are fungal causes of meningitis
Candida (Cryptococcus Neoformans)
how does meningitis presents?
headache
photophobia
neckstiffness
+
Fever // N/V // Seizures
+/- Purpuric non blanching rash
+
Kernig
Brudzinski signs
How is Meningitis dx?
MRI
LP
PCR
Culuture
How is meningitis treated?
At GP:
IV benzylpenicillin + Dexamethasone
At hos:
Ceftriaxone + Amoxicillin
Viral - Aciclovir
If in contact - Ciprofloxacin
