Topic 3 - CNS Infections Flashcards
All types of CNS infections have similarities to the ___ at onset.
Flu
With CNS infections, there is a concern that there can easily be a ____________ of “a bad flu” in a situation that is time sensitive.
Misdiagnosis
Signs and symptoms of CNS __________ include:
- Fever
- Fatigue/malaise
- Anorexia
- Digestive upset
- Headache
- Muscle & joint achiness/pain
Infections
With CNS infections, it is important to be alert for any presence of ____________ signs, which immediately suggest a more ominous problem that should be immediately looked at medically.
Neurological
____________ signs of CNS infections include:
- Photophobia
- Phonophobia
- Altered vision
- Altered speech
- Disorientation
- Motor weakness
- Altered sensation
- Gait change
- Altered consciousness
Neurological
T/F - Signs and symptoms, such as seizure or hallucination, may occur with CNS infections.
True
In the context of onset of flu-like signs and symptoms, presence of one or more _________ signs can also be an indicator of CNS infections.
Meningeal
Meningeal signs indicate meninges ____________.
Inflammation
Sudden onset of unexplained severe ____ pain and immobility is an example of a meningeal sign.
Neck
A meningeal sign when forward neck flexion creates “explosive” pain in the head that often also shoots down the spine.
Brudzinski’s Sign
With Brudzinski’s sign, the person reflexively goes into fetal position with traction on the _____ meninges.
Upper
A meningeal sign when hip flexion plus knee extension causes intense pain along the spine that my shoot into the head.
Kernig’s Sign
T/F - Kernig’s sign can only appear unilaterally.
False - Kernig’s sign can appear BOTH unilaterally OR BILATERALLY.
With Kernig’s sign, the person reflexively goes into fetal position with traction on the _____ meninges.
Lower
Skin rash, petechiae and localized sepsis are also possible in __________.
Meningitis
The ________ and ___________ types of CNS infections have sudden, acute onsets.
Pyogenic
Lymphocytic
The _____________ types of CNS infections have more subtle, gradual onsets.
Granulomatous
T/F - Sometimes granulomatous infections can have sudden, acute onsets.
True
There is significant incidence of _____________ granulomatous infection in the following vulnerable populations:
- Young children
- Elderly
- Immunocompromised
- Very ill
Opportunistic
What kind of infection is candida encephalitis in people terminally ill with cancer or AIDS?
Opportunistic Granulomatous
T/F - Routine bacteria are not involved in opportunistic CNS infections.
False - Routine bacteria CAN ALSO BE involved in opportunistic CNS infections.
Some organisms, such as _____________, have the capacity to make a healthy adult dangerously ill.
Meningococcus
In general, the ___________ types of CNS infections have the best survival and recovery rate.
Lymphocytic
For __________, when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate treatment is started, 5-10% of patients die, typically within ___ to ___ hours after the onset of symptoms.
Meningitis
24-48 hours
T/F - When meningitis is diagnosed late, or untreated, up to 50% of cases may die.
True
For ____________, if diagnosed early and treated the death rate is 3-20%, but when diagnosed late or left untreated it is 50-75%.
Encephalitis
_____________ types of CNS infections have the highest fatality rate, in part because they are often occurring in the immunocompromised.
Granulomatous
Ongoing impairments following CNS __________ include:
- Altered sensation
- Motor dysfunctions
- Headaches
- Disordered sleep
- Autonomic impairments
- Epilepsy
- Amputations
- Vision/hearing impairments
- Mood disorders
- Personality changes
- Cognitive impairments
- Cerebral palsy
Infections
