Meningitis

Question 1

What are the 3 types and what are they caused by?

Answer 1

Acute (bacterial), subacute (viral), chronic (fungal)

Question 2

What are the common bacteria that cause meningitis?

Answer 2

Strep pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Tuberculosis meningitis

Question 3

What are the common viruses that cause meningitis?

Answer 3

Enterovirus, HSV, HIV, varicella-zoster virus

Question 4

What are the common fungi that cause meningitis?

Answer 4

Cryptococcus, Aspergillus

Question 5

What are the symptoms?

Answer 5

Headache
Fever
Neck stiffness
Photophobia
Rash
Nausea and vomiting
Confusion

Question 6

What are the clinical features?

Answer 6

Kernig’s sign (lift leg, pain)
Brudzinski’s sign (lift neck, patient lifts legs)
Non-blanching rash

Question 7

What are the investigations?

Answer 7

Bloods - FBC, U+Es, LFTs, CRP

Lumbar puncture

Question 8

What does the CSF look like in viral?

Answer 8

Clear
Low protein
Normal glucose

Question 9

What does the CSF look like in bacterial?

Answer 9

Turbid
High protein
Low glucose
High WCC
High pressure

Question 10

What is the management?

Answer 10

Bacterial - IV abx (Ceftriaxone)
Viral - Aciclovir IV
Fungal - IV clotrimazole

Question 11

What are the complications?

Answer 11

Abscess
Cerebritis
Deafness
Hydrocephalus
Death