Meningitis

Question 1

What is meningism?

Answer 1

Symptom complex of: headache, photophobia and vomiting with muscle spasm leading to neck rigidity

Question 2

What is meningitis?

Answer 2

Infection of the meninges leading to inflammation and signs of meningeal irritation

Question 3

What are the bacterial causes of meningitis?

Answer 3

Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus)
Strep. pneumonia (pneumococcus)

Question 4

What are the viral causes of meninigitis?

Answer 4

Enteroviruses
Mumps
HSV

Question 5

What is aseptic meningitis>

Answer 5

CSF shows an excessive number of lymphocytes and elevated protein
No causative organism
May be due to tumour cells in CSF, a reaction to drugs, sarcoidosis, SLE

Question 6

What is the definitive diagnosis for meningitis?

Answer 6

Lumbar Puncture- examination of the CSF

Question 7

What is the management of acute bacterial meningitis?

Answer 7

Early clinical recognition
Rapid pathogen detection
Bactericidal antimicrobial therapy
Treat sequelae of septicaemia
Antibiotic prophylaxis of close contacts

Question 8

What is the primary cause of disease in nenoates?

Answer 8

Group B streptococcus )GBS)

Question 9

What is the primary cause of disease in children and young people?

Answer 9

Neisseria meningitidis- meningococcus

Question 10

What is the primary cause of disease in adults?

Answer 10

Streptococcus pneumonia (pnuemococcal)

Question 11

What is another type of bacterial meningitis?

Answer 11

Haemophilus influenzae (Type b) Meningitis

Question 12

What is meningococcal septicaemia?

Answer 12

Meningococcal bacterial infection is in the bloodstream
Causes the non blanching rash

Question 13

What is Kernig’s test?

Answer 13

Tests meningeal irritation:
Patient lies on back. Flex one hip and knee to 90 degrees and then slowly straighten the knee while keeping the kip flexed.
In meningitis this produces spinal pain

Question 14

What is Brudzinski’s test?

Answer 14

Tests meningeal irritation:
Lift head and neck off the bed and flex their chin to their chest
Positive test is when this causes the patient to involuntarily flex their hips and knees

Question 15

What are CSF results for bacterial meningitis?

Answer 15

Cloudy
High protein
Low glucose
High neutrophil count
Bacteria culture positive

Question 16

What are CSF results for viral meningitis?

Answer 16

Clear
Mildly raised or normal protein
Normal glucose
High lymphocyte count
Negative bacterial culture