Question 1

Two most common types of CNS infections

Accepted Answer

Meningitis Encephalitis

Question 2

Meningitis

Accepted Answer

Infection/inflammation that is confined to the meninges.

Question 3

Most common causes of meningitis

Accepted Answer

Bacteria or Viruses - Outcomes tend to be much worse when the etiology is bacterial as opposed to viral. Viral - most people recover in 7-10 days with no neurologic deficits

Question 4

3 Bacterial Forms of Meningitis

Accepted Answer

(in order of prevalence) Pneumococcal meningitis - most common cause of SNHL Meningococcal meningitis Haemophilus meningitis

Question 5

Causes/complications of brain damage in bacterial meningitis

Accepted Answer

Inflammation (most common) - which leads to tissue and vascular injury (vasculitis), thrombosis (blood clot), and smaller infarcts. Brain (cerebral) edema and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) --> which can lead to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) Cranial defects (more common in children > adults; ~5-11%).

Question 6

Long-term neurobehavioral sequelae of bacterial meningitis

Accepted Answer

In developed countries: - hearing loss (11%) - intellectual disabilities (4%) - spasticity/paresis (4%) - seizure disorders (4%) More broad estimates: 50% of childhood survivors tend to have cognitive/behavioral difficulties (e.g., cognitive impairments, academic limitations, ADHD/EF, language difficulties in children contracted <1 year

Question 7

Bacterial infection acute symptoms

Accepted Answer

(acute = several hours) sudden fever severe headaches (due to inflammation of the meningeal blood vessels) nuchal rigidity (stiff neck) vomiting diarrhea convulsions irritability

Question 8

Encephalitis

Accepted Answer

general term that refers to an infection of the brain tissue/parenchyma The cause is often unknown in 1/3-2/3 of cases

Question 9

Meningitis vs Encephalitis

Accepted Answer

Meningitis - infection/inflammation that is confined to the meninges. Encephalitis - general term that refers to an infection of the brain tissue/parenchyma

Question 10

Most common cause of encephalitis

Accepted Answer

viruses - but can be because of bacteria, fungi, and parasites

Question 11

Most common viruses that cause encephalitis

Accepted Answer

herpes simplex virus (HSV) - most common children varicella zoster virus Epstein-Barr virus adenoviruses enteroviruses arboviruses (e.g., ARthropod- BOrne viruses such as from ticks and mosquitoes) cytomegalovirus

Question 12

How is meningitis diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Lumbar Puncture -- presence of bacteria in CSF, elevated white blood cell count or presence of blood, high protein levels, low glucose. Blood Work MRI is used in TB meningitis to visualize leptomeningeal tubercles, to identify TB meningitis related cranial neuropathies, and to diagnose other complications of TB, such as stroke.

Question 13

Neurobehavioral sequelae of encephalitis

Accepted Answer

Average-to-low average IQ Higher rates of learning disabilities, attention/EF/ processing speed problems, anterograde memory difficulties (forming new memories), behavioral concerns

Question 14

Autoimmune encephalitis

Accepted Answer

autoimmune syndrome associated with an attack of antibodies on neuronal receptors that can occur with or without a cancer association.

Question 15

Abscesses

Accepted Answer

infectious pus collections that occur in the brain or surrounding spaces. These infections can originate from nearby structures (e.g., ear infections, sinusitis, dental infections) can occur after penetrating brain injury, depressed skull fracture, or neurosurgery an cause brain damage by increasing ICP and by causing mass effect on the brain.

Question 16

Prion diseases

Accepted Answer

caused by infectious proteins called prions common prior disease: Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD)

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Central Nervous System Infections Flashcards

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