Infections of the CNS

Question 1

What is encephalitis?

Answer 1

Infection of the brain parenchyma

Question 2

What is myelitis?

Answer 2

Infection of the spinal cord

Question 3

What is radiculitis?

Answer 3

Infection of the nerve roots

Question 4

What is pleocystosis?

Answer 4

Presence of an abnormally large number of
lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Hallmark of meningitis.

Question 5

What do kernig’s sign and brudzinski’s sign indicate?

Answer 5

Meningeal irritation

Question 6

What can cause bacterial meningitis in adults and children?

Answer 6

ADULTS –> Streptococcus pneumoniae (more severe than other forms) and Neisseria meningitides (gram negative)

CHILDREN –> Haemophilus influenza type B, meningococcus, and pneumococcus

Question 7

What is the subependymal zone?

Answer 7

The cell layer below the ependyma in the lateral ventricles of the brain.

This region contains adult neural stem cells which have the potential to generate new neurons and glial cells via neurogenesis.

Question 8

What is the most common cause of viral meningitis?

Answer 8

Enteroviruses

Question 9

What is the most common fungal infection of the CNS?

Answer 9

Cryptococcus neofromans

Question 10

Name some viruses that can cause encephalitis….

Answer 10

Herpes viruses (HSV1 is most common cause)
Entero viruses
Measles and mumps
Flaviviruses