Ch. 12: Meningitis Flashcards
What is meningitis?
An inflammation of the CSF and meninges
What are meninges?
CT that cover the brain and spinal cord
Meningitis and _____ have similar manifestation and are both sometimes preceded by _______. Testing is necessary to differentiate between the two
Reye’s Syndrome—preceded by viral infections
What kind of meningitis usually requires only supportive care for recovery?
Viral (or aseptic)
What kind of meningitis is a contagious infection?
Bacterial (septic)
Bacterial meningitis: What does the prognosis depend on?
How quickly care is initiated
What are some viral illnesses that could precede viral meningitis?
Cytomegalovirus Adenovirus Mumps Herpes simplex virus Arbovirus
What are some bacterial infections that could lead/cause bacterial meningitis?
Neisseria meningitidis {meningococcal]
Streptococcus pneumoniae [pneumococcal]
Haem. flu type B [Hib]
E. Coli
Bacterial meningitis can be caused by what type of injuries?
Injuries that provide direct access to CSF
EX: Skull fracture, penetrating head wound
What meningitis does crowded living conditions cause?
Bacterial
Are manifestations of viral and bacterial meningitis similar or different?
Similar
Newborns: Is illness present at birth?
No illness is present at birth, but it progresses within a few days
Newborns: What are clinical manifestations of meningitis in a newborn?
Vague and difficult to diagnose but
- poor muscle tone
- weak cry
- poor suck
- refuses feegind
- V/D
- Possible fever or hypothermia
Newborns: What is a late sign of meningitis?
Bulging fontanels
3m-2y: What are the clinical manifestations (6)
- Seizures with a HIGH pitched cry
- Fever, irritability
- Bulging fontanels
- Possible nuchal rigidity
- Poor feeding
- Vomiting
3m-2y: Is the Brudzinski’s sign reliable for diagnosis for this age?
No
3m-2y: Is Kerning’s sign a reliable for diagnosis for this age?
No
2year-adolescents: What is often the initial sign?
Seizures
2y-adolescents: What kind of rigidity?
Nuchal rigidity
2y-adolescents: Positive Brudzinski’s sign. What does this mean?
Flexion of extremities occurring with deliberate flexion of the child’s neck
2y-adolescnets: Positive Kernig’s sign. What does this mean?
Resistance to extension of the child’s leg from a flexed position
2y-adolescents: What are some other signs of meningitis?
- Fever, chills
- Headache
- Irritability and restlessness that may progrss to drowsiness, delirium, stupor, and coma
2 year-adolescents: What is seen specifically with meningococcal infection?
Petechia or purpuric type rash
2y-adolesecents: What may be seen specifically with meningococcal and Hib infection?
Involvement of joints
2y-adolescents: What may be seen specifically with pneumococcal infection?
Chronic draining ear
Lab tests: What cultures are positive sometimes when CSF is negative?
Blood cultures are sometimes positive when the CSF culture is negative
Lab tests: Do we need to do a CBC?
Yes
How does the CSF analysis look for bacterial?
- CLOUDY color
- Elevated WBC & protein
- Decreased glucose
- POSITVE gram stain