Infection of the CNS questions Flashcards
This is an aset given review for CNS infections for EEG board exam candidates.
What is the name of the infection between the pia mater and arachnoid called?
Fill in
What is another name for a brain abscess?
Cerebral abscess or CNS abscess
What is a brain abscess?
A brain abscess is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, usually from a bacterial or fungal infection.
Where would you find a subdural empyema (empyema= collection of pus in a cavity of the body)
Between the dura and arachnoid mater
Meningitis in a child is often caused by what?
Viral Meningitis: Enteroviruses
Meningitis in adults is often caused by what?
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
- Sudden high fever
- Severe headache that isn’t easily confused with other types of headache
- Stiff neck
- Vomiting or nausea with headache
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Seizures
- Sleepiness or difficulty waking up
- Sensitivity to light
- Lack of interest in drinking and eating
- Skin rash in some cases, such as in meningococcal meningitis
What does the word contagion mean?
the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact.
What are the two types of meningitis and what is the most deadly?
Viral and Bacterial. Bacterial is most deadly.
How do you diagnose meningitis?
Lumbar puncture
What are the EEG findings of a patient with meningitis?
Generalized slowing in most cases. HSV (herpes simplex) would show temporal discharges
What is the most common cause for brain abscess?
The most common causes of a brain abscess, also known as a cerebral abscess, are bacteria or fungi infecting part of the brain.
Where would the cause for brain abscess originate?
.
The most common bacteria recovered from cultures are _________.
Streptococcus cocci.
What are the causes of encephalitis? Are seizures a result?
Encephalitis can develop as a result of a direct infection to the brain by a virus, bacterium or fungus. Yes, it can cause seizures.
Define encephalitis
Encephalitis is acute inflammation (swelling up) of the brain resulting either from a viral infection or when the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks brain tissue. The most common cause is a viral infection. In medicine acute means it comes on abruptly; of abrupt onset, develops rapidly, and usually requires urgent care.
What part of the brain is Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) found?
Temporal lobe
EEG with HSV would show?
uni- or bilateral periodic sharp waves or attenuation of amplitude, focal or generalized slow waves or epileptiform discharges, or electrical seizures. No specific EEG patterns are pathognomonic for HSE, but a focal or lateralized EEG abnormality in the presence of encephalitis is highly suspicious of HSE.
How is HSV introduced into the body’s system?
broken skin or a mucous membrane, such as inside the mouth or in the genital area. In addition to the fluid from fever blisters, each virus can be carried in bodily fluids like saliva, semen, and fluid in the female genital tract.
What is leukoencephalopathy?
neurological disorder characterized by destruction of cells that produce the myelin.
Leuko means?
White, colorless
What is Reye’s syndrome?
Reye syndrome is sudden (acute) brain damage and liver function problems of unknown cause.
The syndrome has occurred in children who have been given aspirin when they have chicken pox or the flu.
