Meningitis Flashcards
Meningitis = Inflammation of ___
LEPTOMINENGES - Light layers (= ARACHNOID + PIA)
What are the 3 infectious causes of NEONATAL MENINGITIS?
GBS
E.COLI
LISTERIA
(all 3 babies with caps)
What is the most common cause of MENINGITIS in young children and teenagers?
Neisseria meningitidis
What is the most common cause of MENINGITIS in adults and elderly?
STREP PNEUMO (Squire holding MOPS)
What ist he most common cause of MENINGITIS in NON-VACCINATED INFANTS?
H.influenza - kid wearing helmet pointing towards BEE “Type B encapsulated protein”
What is the #1 cause of ASEPTIC MENINGITIS?
ENTEROVIRUSES:
Coxsackie**, Polio, Echovirus
100% ASEPTIC REGION
How does one diagnose MENINGITIS? Provide details of the procedure. What does it pass through? Will you pierce the PIA?
LUMBAR PUNCTURE
Between L4 and L5 - Because spinal cord ends at L2 BUT subarachnoid space and cauda equina continue onto S2
Passes through SKIN -> LIGAMENTS -> EPIDURAL SPACE -> DURA -> ARACHNOID
WILL NOT pierce through the PIA
What does a LP of BACTERIAL MENINGITIS often show?
NEUTROPHILS
LOW CSF Glc (Bec bacteria consume Glc:
What does a LP of VIRAL MENINGITIS often show?
LYMPHOCYTES
nl CSF Glc (66) - Viruses do NOT consume Glc
What does a LP of FUNGAL MENINGITIS often show?
LYMPHOCYTES
LOW CSF Glc - Fungi DO consume Glc
Which class of MENINGITIS generally has fatal complications? What are the complications? [Hint: One is related to the fighting infection process, the other is with healing after fighting infection]
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
COMPLICATION 1: Acute Inflammation - Massive exudate, Neutrophils, Inflammatory infiltrate -> Cerebral EDEMA -> Herniation -> DEATH
COMPLICATION 2: Extensive fibrosis healing: Scarred surface of brain (SEIZURES) + Scarring of nerves exiting brain (HEARING LOSS) + Scarring of CSF resorption by fibrosis of subarachnoid granulations (COMMUNICATING HYDROCEPHALUS)
