Meningitis

Question 1

What is meningitis

Answer 1

inflammation of the meninges in the brain

caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infection

Question 2

what are the meninges

Answer 2

3 membranes that envelop the brain/ spinal cord

dura mater- tough and fibrous
arachnoid mater- web- like
pia mater- thin- direct contact with brain

Question 3

what is the most common cause of meningitis

Answer 3

Viral

Question 4

what are the causes of meningitis

Answer 4

malignant= leukaemia, lymphoma, breast cancer

viral= mumps, herpes, influenza, echovirus

bacterial= neisseria meningitidis, strep pneumoniae

Question 5

what is meningococcal meningitis

Answer 5

causes by neisseria meningitis

man not cause fever or high WBC
cold peripheries

life threatening

Question 6

how does meningitis present

Answer 6

headache
fever
neck stiffness
photophobia
n and v

seizures
reduced conscious level
confusion
features of sepsis e.g. non-blanching rash (bacterial)

Question 7

how do you investigate meningitis

Answer 7

Blood tests (FBC, u and es, clotting, glucose)

Lumbar Puncture

CT head

ABG

Blood cultures

Question 8

how do you treat bacterial meningitis

Answer 8

IV Benzylpenicillin/ Ceftriaxone

steroids e.g. dexamethasone to reduce hearing loss and neuro damage

Question 9

how does the LP results differ for bacterial and viral and fungal meningitis

Answer 9

Bacterial:
cloudy
high protein
low glucose
high neutrophils

Viral:
clear
normal protein
normal glucose
high lymphocytes

Fungal:
clear
high protein
normal glucose