Meningitis Flashcards
What are the 3 meningeal layers?
1 - dura, arachnoid and pia mater
2 - dura, arachnoid and cocci mater
3 - dentures, arachnoid and pia mater
4 - dura, aracadonis and pia mater
1 - dura, arachnoid and pia mater
What is meningitis?
1 - damaged menigeal layer
2 - infection with menigeitis
3 - congenital defect
4 - inflammation of the meningeal layers due to infection
4 - inflammation of the meningeal layers due to infection
Meningitis requires a trigger that results in inflammation. The following are all causes of meningitis, but which is by far the most common?
1 - autoimmune disease (LUPUS)
2 - adverse reaction to medication
3 - infection
4 - trauma
3 - infection
How common is meningitis in the UK?
1 - 32 cases/year
2 - 320 cases/year
3 - 3200 cases/year
4 - 32,000 cases/year
3 - 3200 cases/year
Which group of patients is most at risk of developing meningitis?
1 - children <5 y/o
2 - children <16 y/o
3 - adults 20-30 y/o
4 - adults >65 y/o
1 - children <5 y/o
In acute bacterial meningitis the pia-arachnoid layers of the meninges become congested by polymorphs. What are polymorphs?
1 - bacterial deposits
2 - build up of WBCs
3 - build up of a virus
4 - neutrophils once leaving the blood stream and entering the tissue
4 - neutrophils once leaving the blood stream and entering the tissue
Does cerebral oedema occur in both bacterial and viral meningitis?
- No
Only in bacterial meningitis
In acute bacterial meningitis the pia-arachnoid layers of the meninges become congested by polymorphs (neutrophils) and a layer of pus forms. What affect can this have on cranial nerves?
1 - no effect
2 - destroy cranial nerves
3 - increase cranial nerve number
4 - nerve palsies and hydrocephalus
4 - nerve palsies and hydrocephalus
Above happens if adhesions form
In viral meningitis there is no formation of pus, polymorphs, adhesions and little if any oedema, unless encephalitis is present. What is the key pathological sign of viral meningitis?
1 - cranial nerve palsy
2 - peripheral nerve loss
3 - lymphocytes inflamed CSF
4 - no signs
3 - lymphocytes inflamed CSF
Lymphocytes = viral
Neutrophils = bacterial
Although meningitis is generally a pathological condition, what markers can be used to help diagnose it?
1 - RBC and WBC count
2 - bacterial count
3 - elevated CSF, WBC and protein count
4 - peripheral nerve test
3 - elevated CSF, WBC and protein count
- Glucose = 50% of plasma levels as bacteria eat the glucose
- Protein = High >1g/L as meningeal inflammation allows proteins to leak in
- WCC = 10-5000 polymorphs (present in bacterial infection) fighting the bacteria
Which of the following is the most common cause of meningitis?
1 - Bacterial meningitis
2 - Viral meningitis
3 - TB meningitis
4 - Fungal / protozoa meningitis
1 - Bacterial meningitis
What is the incidence of bacterial meningitis?
1 - 1.05 cases per 100 000 population
2 - 10.05 cases per 100 000 population
3 - 100.05 cases per 100 000 population
4 - 1000.05 cases per 100 000 population
1 - 1.05 cases per 100 000 population
What age has the highest incidence of bacterial meningitis?
1 - 15-25 years 1.2 per 100 000
2 - 35-45 years 1.2 per 100 000
3 - 45-65 years 1.2 per 100 000
4 - >65 years 1.2 per 100 000
3 - 45-65 years 1.2 per 100 000
What is the overall mortality of bacterial meningitis?
1 - 0.2%
2 - 2%
3 - 12%
4 - 20%
4 - 20%
- mortality also increases with age
Match the bacteria with the correct description:
- Streptococcus pneumonia, Neisseria meningitis, Group B streptococcus
- most common in <2 years, most common in all other ages, most common in 11-17 years
- Streptococcus pneumonia = most common in <2 years, most common in all other ages
- Neisseria meningitis = most common in 11-17 years
- Group B streptococcus = most common in <2 years
Pneumococcus, also referred to as Streptococcus pneumonia is an aggressive bacteria that can cause bacterial meningitis, which has the highest mortality rate of any cause of meningitis. What is the mortality rate of pneumococcal meningitis?
1 - 0.2%
2 - 2%
3 - 12%
4 - 30%
4 - 30%
- mortality also increases with age
What is the basic triad presentations of meningitis?
1 - headache, fever and neck stiffness
2 - pain, fever and neck stiffness
3 - headache, fever and peripheral palsy
4 - headache, pain and neck stiffness
1 - headache, fever and neck stiffness
- BUT do no need all of them
In addition to the triad associated with meningitis (heache, stuff neck and fever) what other basic symptoms may a patient present with?
1 - photophobia and vomiting
2 - photophobia and hypotension
3 - vomiting and diarrhoea
4 - vomiting and hypotension
1 - photophobia and vomiting
Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is a medical emergency and is most common in 11-17 year olds, but what is it also known by?
1 - Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcaemia
2 - meningococcal septicaemia
3 - pneumococcal meningitis
4 - viral meningitis
1 - Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcaemia (bacteria in the blood)
Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is a medical emergancy and called Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcaemia. In addition to the triad of meningitis (stiff neck, fever and headache) what key clinical features do patients present with, and is often the sign that people recognise the most?
1 - weight loss
2 - lack of consciousness
3 - non-blanching petechial or non-specific blotchy red rash
4 - no rash of skin changes
3 - non-blanching petechial or non-specific blotchy red rash
- does not fade when you press a glass on it
Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is a medical emergancy and called Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcaemia. All of the following are complications of Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcaemia, EXCEPT which one?
1 - DIC
2 - septic shock
3 - papilloedema
4 - acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
3 - papilloedema
Why are pregnant women told not to eat soft cheeses?
1 - incase women is allergic
2 - incase baby is allergic
3 - soft cheese is unpasteurised and could contain listeria bacteria
4 - calorific
3 - soft cheese is unpasteurised and could contain listeria bacteria
- can lead to Listeria monocytogenes meningitis
How quickly can meningitis onset occur?
1 - minutes to hours
2 - hours to days
3 - days to weeks
4 - weeks to months
1 - minutes to hours
What is Kernigs sign?
1 - hip on one side drops
2 - inability to straighten leg while flexing the hip
3 - neck is flexed resulting in flexion of the knees and/or hips
4 - toes extend and abduct
2 - inability to straighten leg while flexing the hip
- pain is caused by irritation of the meninges
What is the Brduzinski sign?
1 - hip on one side drops
2 - inability to straighten leg while flexing the hip
3 - neck is flexed resulting in flexion of the knees and/or hips
4 - toes extend and abduct
3 - neck is flexed resulting in flexion of the knees and/or hips
- bodies attempt to alleviate stress on the meninges
Does meningitis affect a patients GCS score?
- yes
- it will be attenuated in the later stage of meningitis
What % of patients with meningitis will experience seizures?
1 - 0.2%
2 - 2%
3 - 20%
4 - 40%
3 - 20%