Meningitis Flashcards
What does the CNS consist of?
Brain
Brain stem
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
What is dura?
Fibrous outer membrane
What is arachnoid?
The middle “web like” membrane
What is Pia?
Thin inner membrane
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
CSF is a cushion for brain and spinal cord.
Circulating fluid (150ml) monitors for changes in internal environment.
Similar to plasma in appearance.
What is cerebrospinal fluid testing ?
Called a “lumbar puncture” or “spinal tap”.
Pts lie on side and bring knees up, needle inserted at L3 or L4/5.
Tests for meningitis.
Not just used for testing, medication can also be delivered this way.
What is meningitis?
An inflammation of the meninges and subarachnoid space most commonly the result of an infection.
What are the risk factors of meningitis?
Younger than 25
Living in a community setting
Pregnancy
Working with animals
Immunodeficiency
How many deaths were there from meningitis in October 2022
57 deaths and 1033 cases
What are the causes of meningitis?
Bacterial - usually more serious than other forms
Viral - rarely life threatening and can rarely cause sepsis
Fungal - very rare in the UK. It usually only affects the immunocompromised.
What is neisseria meningitidis?
This is the bacteria causing meningococcal septicaemia which is meningitis + septicaemia.
N. meningitidis, causing meningococcal meningitis, is the one with the potential to produce large epidemics. There are 12 serogroups of N. meningitidis that have been identified, 6 of which (A, B, C, W, X and Y) can cause epidemics.
What is haemootogenous spread?
A pathpogen entering via the blood
What is the most common cause of meningitis?
Infection
What is normal CSF pressure?
7-18cmH2O
What are some symptoms of meningitis?
Headache
Back pain
Pyrexia
Neck stiffness
Photophobia
Phonophobia (sound)
