meningitis

Question 1

What causes infection and inflammation in the brain and CNS?

Answer 1

Bacteria, parasites, toxins, viruses

Question 2

Is meningitis contagious?

Answer 2

VERY

Question 3

How do the microorganisms reach the brain?

Answer 3

blood, extension via nearby tissues, direct assess of wound

Question 4

why does the infection spread rapidly?

Answer 4

b/c of the flow of CSF and continuous membranes covering the brain

Question 5

Inflammation response to infection causes what

Answer 5

Increase in ICP

Question 6

what happens to the pia and archanoid matter?

Answer 6

Become edematous

Question 7

what kind of meningitis do children and young adults get?

Answer 7

Meningococcus

Question 8

what are some traits of meningococcus?

Answer 8

carried in the nasoopharynx, spread by droplets, common epidemics in schools, late winter/early spring

Question 9

what kind of meningitis is common in neonates?

Answer 9

Escherichia Coli

Question 10

What are some traits of escherichia coli?

Answer 10

most common causative organism, usually seen in conjunction with difficult deliveries(PROM) and w/neural tube deficits

Question 11

What kind of meningitis is common in young children

Answer 11

Haemophilus Influenza, common in the fall and winter

Question 12

What kind of menigitis affects elders and young children?

Answer 12

Streptococcus pneumonia(most common)

Question 13

Can meningitis occur secondary to other infections, surgeries or head trauma?

Answer 13

Yes

Question 14

What can viral meningitis result from?

Answer 14

Mumps and measles, usually more mild symptoms then bacterial meningitis

Question 15

What is the classic triad for meningitis?

Answer 15

stiff neck, altered mental state, and high fever

Question 16

what are some diagnostic tests?

Answer 16

CSF fluid(cloudy and increase in leukocytes), blood and CSF cultures, CT and MRI

Question 17

What is the TX on these patients?

Answer 17

antibiotics(bacterial), antivirals, some vaccinations, steroids can decrease inflammation but will decrease immune system.

Question 18

What is encephalitis?

Answer 18

Inflammation of the brain caused by an acute febrile illness or infection and usually is viral

Question 19

What will sometimes happen in encephalitis?

Answer 19

Infection of the meninges may occur following vaccination with live virus (measles, mumps, rubella)

Question 20

What usually happens in encephalitis?

Answer 20

Necrosis and inflammation development in brain tissue and often results in permanent damage.

Question 21

What are some signs and symptoms of ENCEP?

Answer 21

sever headache, stiff neck, lethargy, vommiting, seizures, photophobia, fever

Question 22

what is western equine encephalitis?

Answer 22

arboviral infection, spread from mosquitoes, most common in summer and in young children

Question 23

what is west nile fever?

Answer 23

flavovirus, spread by mosquitoes

Question 24

what is Neuroborreliosis (Lyme Disease)

Answer 24

caused by spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi

Question 25

What is herpes simplex encephalitis

Answer 25

dangerous, occurs occasionally, (HSV-1) from trigeminal nerve ganglion, early TX with antiviral drug (acyclovir) may control infection.

Question 26

what is the TX for encephalitis?

Answer 26

CSF exam and culture, CT, MRI, WBC count. blood cultures.