bugs/fungus/virus

Question 1

aspergillus

Answer 1

fungus that colonizes the paranasal sinuses and can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis

• • can invade the posterior circulation and cause vertebrobasilar strokes
• • can cause cerbral vasculitis by invasion of vessel walls
• sinus infection can spread to brain
• spinal cord compression can result from pulmonary aspergillosis that extensds to the thoracic verebrae through the epidural space

Question 2

histoplasma

Answer 2

fungus that can cause influenza like infection w/ erythematous skin lesions and liver function abnormalities

• fewer than 20% of cases can cause cerebritis, basilar meningitis or CNS granuloma
• cerebral abscess 40%
• meningeal symptoms and signs of headache, fever, neck stiffness

Question 3

candida albicans

Answer 3

neurologic infection is rare in immunocompetent hosts
- immunocomprimised, can menifest in the form of intracranial abscesses, vasculitis, and small vessel thrombosis, mycotic intracerebral aneurysms that can rupture and cause parenchymal hemorrhage

Question 4

pseudallescheria boydii

Answer 4

uncommon fungal pathogen that can infect immunocompromised and cause meningitis or brain abscesses