Neurosciences Flashcards
MLA conditions: Meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess. Describe causes, diagnosis, and management.
Why does meningitis cause headaches?
Cerebral odedma/raised ICP
Pathogens invade the meninges, releasing toxins and triggering an inflammatory response > increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
Inc number of WBC and proteins, results in cerebral oedema and raised ICP.
What are the 3 most common bacteria that cause meningitis?
Which is the most common?
1. Streptococcus pneumoniae
2. Neisseria meningitidis
3. Haemophilus influenzae.
What are the 3 most common viruses that cause meningitis?
- Enteroviruses,
- herpes simplex virus, and
- mumps virus.
Cancer (meningeal involvement such as leukaemia),
SLE, certain drugs, or head injury can also cause meningitis. But less acute.
A food-borne virus that is a facultative, gram-positive rod. Can cause severe sympotms (N/V+D, myalgia, meningitis)
Listeria monocytogenes
Classic triad of meningitis
Fever, headache, neck stiffness (classic triad in adults),
Plus photophobia, nausea/vomiting, altered mental status e.g. drowsiness, and sometimes a rash (in meningococcal meningitis).
What are signs that indicate meningococcal septicaemia?
Signs include a non-blanching purpuric rash, hypotension, tachycardia, cold extremities, and multi-organ failure.
Which 2 clinical tests are specific but not sensitive to bacterial meningitis?
Kernig’s sign and Brudzinski’s sign (specific but not sensitive)
If you suspect meningitis in the community, what should be your first step?
Immediate transfer to the hospital.
For people with strongly suspected meningococcal disease, give intravenous or IM ceftriaxone or benzylpenicillin
When should treatment be started for suspected meningitis and encephalitis ?
Immediately upon clinical suspicion, due to potentially life-threatening consequences e.g. coma, extensive damage and death.
Admit to hospital if not already.
If bacterial meningitis is strongly suspected e.g. patient very unwell, having non-blanching purpura, what should you do before any investigations?
Take a blood culture and give empiric antibiotics (broad-spectrum e.g. ceftriaxone).
How do pathogens reach the meninges? List 3 ways
- bloodstream/septicaemia (hematogenous spread),
- direct extension from nearby infections (e.g., sinusitis, otitis media), or
- through a breach in the skull or spinal column connecting the nasopharynx and the meninges.
List 5 domains in a lumbar puncture that you should look for in diagnosis of meningitis.
- Opening pressure/appearance (often increased, cloudy)
- WBC: number and type
- glucose
- protein
- culture (and gram staining)
What are the typical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in bacterial versus viral meningitis?
Bacterial: Cloudy CSF, elevated WBC (predominantly neutrophils), low glucose, high protein.
Viral: normal/elevated WBC count (predominantly lymphocytes), normal glucose, moderately elevated protein.
When should imaging e.g. CT be considered before a lumbar puncture? What are some symptoms that?
Imaging is recommended if there are signs of increased ICP:
- focal neurological deficits,
- pupil abnormality,
- rapidly dropping GCS
- new-onset seizures,
or immunocompromised state to rule out mass effect or other contraindications.
What are the first-line antibiotics used in the treatment of bacterial meningitis? What additional antibiotic may be used in immunocompromised/elderly people?
Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime
Vancomycin for strep. pneumoniae
Amoxicillin/ampicillin to treat Listeria
What is the role of corticosteroids in the management of meningitis?
Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, are used to reduce inflammation and prevent neurological complications, particularly in cases of pneumococcal meningitis.
How should close contacts of a patient with meningococcal meningitis be managed?
What is the most common antibiotic of choice?
Close contacts should receive prophylactic antibiotics.
Ciprofloxacin: Single dose, more commonly used.
What vaccines are available to prevent meningitis?
Vaccines include the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, pneumococcal vaccines (PCV13, PPSV23), and meningococcal vaccines (MenACWY, MenB).
What is a lifestyle RF for developing meningitis?
Living in close quarters (e.g., uni students living in dormitories, military barracks)
Is bacterial meningitis a notifiable disease?
Yes
Co-occurring meningitis and encephalitis is called –?
Meningoencephalitis
What is the most common cause of encephalitis?
HSV-1
Herpes simplex virus
Other viruses: Varcella-zoster virus, CMV, EBV
How does HSV-1 enter the brain?
Through the olfactory nerve or other mucosal surfaces.
Leading to viral replication and inflammation in the brain tissue.
What are the treatment options for viral encephalitis?
- Acyclovir for HSV —started empirically for a suspected case,
- supportive care,
- management of complications e.g. as seizures and increased intracranial pressure (anti-epileptics, IV mannitol)
Which brain region does HSV-1 affect? As a result, what symptoms are caused?
Temporal lobes of the brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala.
These areas are crucial for memory and emotional processing, explaining the cognitive and behavioral symptoms often seen in HSE patients.
What are some arboviruses that can cause encephalitis?
West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus
What may precipitate encephalitis?
Recent infection
Post-Infectious Encephalitis: occurs after the body has fought off an initial infection, leading to demyelination and white matter damage.
How does encephalitis generally present?
Think neuropsychiatry
Acute onset of psychiatric symptoms/altered mental state such as confusion/agitation/hallucinations/behavioural changes + seizures/ focal neurological signs e.g. hemiparesis, hyperrefleia, weakness, aphasia
If a patient comes in with a few days of headache, low-grade fever, and neck stiffness, nausea, and some weakness in one limb, following an unresolving ear infection. What would you suspect? How would you confirm it?
Brain abscess. Cofirmed through CT - ring enhancing lesion with hypodense centre ( inflammed then necrotic)
Pathophysiology of myasthenia gravis.
It is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterised by weakness and fatigueability of voluntary muscles caused by autoantibodies targeting the NMJ endplate.
Clinical presentation of myasthenia gravis— list 4 locations that are commonly affected.
What are two major risks associated with it that may be life-threatening?
- Ocular: Ptosis and diplopia are often the initial and most common symptoms.
- Bulbar: Dysphagia, dysarthria, and difficulty chewing, neck weakness.
-
Limb: Symmetrical proximal muscle weakness affecting the arms more than the legs.
Patients report difficulty getting out of chairs, climbing stairs etc. - Respiratory: Severe cases can lead to respiratory muscle involvement and myasthenic crisis.
First line diagnostic investigations for myasthenia gravis.
- Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) Antibody: Detectable in 80-90% of patients.
- Muscle Specific Tyrosine Kinase (MuSK) Antibody: Detectable in 70% of patients that are seronegative for AChR antibodies.
- Serial Pulmonary Function Tests: Will be considered for patients with myasthenic respiratory compromise.
Second-line: nerve conduction studies/ single fibre EMG
What are tips of examining a patient with myasthenia gravis? Especially if they don’t present with any symptoms?
Ask them to stare up for a minute. Notice ptosis or diplopia.
Pharmacological management of myasthenia gravis
For those with AchR antibodies: Anticholinesterase Inhibitors (Pyridostigmine).
Corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone): Low dose then gradually increased
What is a myasthenia crisis?
A life-threatening exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, characterised by severe muscle weakness leading to respiratory failure, requiring immediate medical intervention.
How it occurs:
- Happens in MG patients with an exacerbating factor e.g. Infection, surgery, certain medications (e.g., antibiotics, beta-blockers), emotional stress, or abruptly stopping anticholinesterase medications.)
- Manage with ITU/ventilatory support. Immune support e.g. IVIG