Meningitis Flashcards
What are the clinical features of meningitis?
Headache
Photophobia
Vomiting
Neck rigidity with flexion
If you suspect a patient of having meningitis, what investigations must you perform?
Blood cultures
Lumbar puncture
FBC
LFT’s
U&E’s
What is the apperance of CSF in a case of bacterial meningitis?
Cloudy
What is the predominant cell type found in CSF in bacterial meningitis?
Neutrophils
What happens to glucose levels in CSF in bacterial meningitis?
Reduced
What happens to the amount of protein found in CSF in bacterial meningitis?
Greatly increased
What is the predominant cell type found in CSF in viral meningitis?
Lymphocytes
What are the main bacteria responsible for bacterial meningitis?
Strep pneumoniae
Neisseria meningitidis
Haemophilius Influenzae
What are the main groups meningitis infections in children and adults?
Meningococcal
Pneumococcal
What is the epidemiology of meningococcal/neisseria infections?
Children
Young adults
What should be suspected when meningitis symptoms come on with extreme suddenness and are associated with reduced consciousness and shock?
Meningococcal septicaemia
What is the classic feature of meningococcal disease that must not be missed?
Purpuric rash that does not blanch
What type of rash occurs in meningitis without septicaemia?
Petechial
How is meningococcal meningitis or sepsis treated?
Penicillin
Ceftriaxone
What is the epidemiology of pneumococcal meningitis?
Older adults
What type of bacteria are associated with meningococcal infections?
Gram -ve cocci
What type of bacteria are associated with pneumococcal infections?
Gram +ve cocci
What are the differntiators between meningococcal and pneumococcal infections?
Pneumococcal infections:
Altered conscious level
Focal neurological signs
How is pneumococcal meningitis treated?
High dose ceftriaxone
In which age groups are viral meningitis most likely to occur?
Young adults
Children
What bacteria are most common in viral meningitis?
Echovirus
Coxsackie
What investigation should be performed in viral meningitis?
PCR of CSF
