Microbiology - Meningitis

Question 1

What is meningism?

Answer 1

Symptoms of headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia OFTEN associated with meningitis.

Question 2

What is meningitis ?

Answer 2

Inflamattion of the meninges. Strictly a pathological diagnosis.

Question 3

Is meningitis rare or common ?

Answer 3

RARE - high fatality rates.

Question 4

Is meningitis a leading cause of death in early childhood ?

Answer 4

YES

Question 5

What is the pathway to CNS infections ?

Answer 5

• From blood to the CSF
• From blood to the Brain

Question 6

What does Neisseria meningitidis cause?

Answer 6

Meningococcal meningitis/ disease

Question 7

What does Streptococcus pneumonia cause?

Answer 7

Pneumococcal meningitis

Question 8

What is the main cause of meningitis ?

Answer 8

Neisseria meningitidis

Question 9

What is the most at risk group of meningitis?

Answer 9

3-9 months old.

Question 10

Difference between sepsis and septicemia?

Answer 10

What is the difference between sepsis and septicaemia? Septicaemia is when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning. This can trigger sepsis, but sepsis can also come from other infections. Sepsis is sometimes referred to as septicaemia; however, they are not the same thing.

Question 11

What are most septicaemias accompanied by ?

Answer 11

Meningitis.

Septiciemia tends to come first and then leads to meningitis.

Question 12

What is worse bacterial or viral meningitis ?

Answer 12

BACTERIA MENINGITIS IS WORSE.

Causes dramatic abscesses
Occur Rapidly
Not self limiting

Question 13

What are common causes of meningitis ?

Answer 13

All three carries by droplets of salavia

Haemophilus influenza (1-2 days before goes wrong)

Neisseria meningitis (6-24 hours)

Strep pneumonia (ACUTE)

Question 14

What are some risk factors of meningitis?

Answer 14

• Enabling access paths to the CNS eg Shunts.
• Dysfunction of selected organs (including cancer)
• Exposure eg crowding.
• Selected bacterial infections eg endocarditis, and pnuemonia.

Question 15

What is the triad of symptoms for meningitis ?

Answer 15

1- fever/headaches
2- neck stiffness (not so much in children)
3- Change in mental state.

other symptoms include
- nausea and vomiting
- photophobia
- back rigidity
-Sleepiness
- Confusion
- irritability
- Delirium
- Coma
- Seizures (uncommon)
- Neurological disturbances and profound alteration of consciousness - THINK ENCEPHALITIS.