Meningitis Flashcards
What is meningitis
Meningitis is a medical emergency. It is caused by inflammation of the meninges due to infection
What is the most common type of meningitis
Viral meningitis
What are some of the causes of viral meningitis
Enteroviruses Herpes simplex 2 VZV Mumps HIV
What are some of the bacterial causes of meningitis
Strep pneumonia
Neiserria meningitides
TB
Listeria meningitides is more common in elderly
Group B strep and Haemophilus influenza B are more common in children
What are some non-infectious causes of meningitis
Sarcoid Metatastic spread of cancer Vasculitis Severe inflammatory conditions Drugs - NSAIDs, amoxicillin, azathioprin Trauma
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis
Headache Fever Neck stiffness Photophobia Rash (meningococcus) Confusion/irritability Focal neurology Seizures Kernigs positive Brudzinski positive Signs of raised ICP Signs of sepsis - fever, low BP, high HR, malaise, arthritis
What is Kernigs sign
Inability to straighten the leg with the hips fully flexed
What is Brudzinski sign
Forced flexion of the neck elicits a reflex flexion of the hip and knee
What CSF findings would you expect on LP in bacterial meningitis
Turbid appearance
Neutrophils
Decreased glucose
Raised protein
What CSF findings would you expect on LP in viral meningitis
Clear appearance
Lymphocytes
Normal glucose
Slightly elevated protein
What CSF findings would you expect on LP in TB meningitis
Clear appearance
Lymphocytes
Markedly decreased glucose
Markedly elevated protein
What medication do you give for viral meningitis
Acyclovir
What medication do you give in primary care if you suspect meningitis
Benzylpenicillin
What medication would you add if you suspected that listeria was the cause of meningitis
Ampicillin
What medication would you give for fungal meningitis
High dose antifungals - amphotericin B, flucytosine
