Cerebral inflammation Flashcards
What is inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection called?
Meningitis
What is encephalitis?
inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanisms
What is cerebral vasculitis
inflammation of the brain caused by infection or autoimmune mechanisms
What is worse viral or bacterial meningitis?
Bacterial is more aggressive
What is the inflammation of vessel walls?
Cerebral vasculitis
What does meningitis look like on histology?
Large blood vessels and lots of white blood cells that show up was a milky white layer
What is cerebral vasculitis also called?
Angiitis
What is the inflammation of the spinal cord known as?
Myelitis
Describe the extent of vascularisation of the brain?
No neuron is more than 100um from a capillary
Very dense
What is the purpose of the blood brain barrier?
massively reduce solute and fluid leak across capillary walls due to tight junctions at the endothelial cell-cell contacts
So can control the exchange of substances using specific membrane transporters
= blood borne infectious agents have reduced entry into the brain
What happens if the endothelial cells are ruptured in the blood brain barrier?
leaky vessel can cause leakage of blood material onto CNS tissue
Astrocytes will go to clean up this tissue rather than do their prescribed function
What are the symptoms of encephalitis?
Flu like intially and headache with pyrexia
Subsequently can get
- confusion
- seizures
- behaviour change
- Dysarthria
- weakness of movement ( or loss )
- consciousness loss
What is pryrexia?
pyrexia (high body temperature)
What are the causes of encepthalitis?
Mostly VIRAL
e.g. herpes simplex
measles
varicella
rubella
other: mosquito, ticks, insects bacterial / fungal trauma autoimmune
How is treatment given for encephalitis?
Antivirals e.g. acyclovir
- Steroids for inflammation
- Antibiotics/anti-fungals
for symptoms :
- Analgesics
- Anti-convulsants for prevention of potential seizures
- Ventilation
