viral meningitis and encephalitis Flashcards
what does “itis” mean
inflammation
define meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
define encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
define menigo-encephalitis
inflammation of the meninges and the brain
define aseptic meningitis
white cell count in CSF >5x 10^6/L
negative bacterial culture
commonest causes of aseptic meningitis
viral- most common
partially treta bacterial meningitis (so culture is negative but WBC is high).
Malignancy
Autoimmune conditions and drugs, Listeria, TB, Syphilis.
most common cause of viral meningitis
unknown-37%
Enterovirus
Herpes simplex virus
most common enetroviruses to cause viral encephalitis
Echovirus, coxsackie virus, parencho virus, enterovirus and polio
most common herpes virus to cause viral encephalitis
HSV1, HSV2 , varicella zoster
how doe pathogens cause viral meningitis
colonise mucosal surfaces
invade epithelial cells
replicate cells
disseminate and CNS invasion
how do pathogens invade the CNS
cerebral microvascular endothelial cells
choroid plexus epithelium- bloodstream.
spread along the olfactory nerve.
clinical features of viral meningitis.
fever, meningism, viral prodrome (lethargy, myalgia’s, arthralgia’s, sore throat ), diahorrhea and vommitting and rash.
what is meningism (what 3 symptoms does it involve`0
headahce, neck stiffness and photophobia
clinal features of viral meningitis in children
nuchal rigidity (neck stiffness), bulging anterior frontelle.
what 3 examinations are carried out on suspected patients with viral meningitis
kernigs sign
Brudzinskis sign
nuchal rididity
what is Kernigs sign
hip and knee flexed at 90, knee cannot be extended due to pain and stiffness in hamstrings.
what is Brudzinski’s sign
flexing neck causes hips and knees to flex at it reduces stretch on spinal cord and meninges
what blood investigations are carried out in viral meningitis
Blood test- FBC, U and E, CRP, clotting (before LP), blood culture, renal function (dehydration).
why might a CT be used in viral meningitis
look for raised intracranial pressure and other diagnosis of mass, lesion, subarachnoid haemorrhage.
why should a lumbar puncture not be carried on a patient with raised intracranial pressure.
removing the CSF can cause the brain to herniate through the foramen magnum
when should a lumbar puncture be carried out on a patient with suspected viral meningitis
ASAP
before antibiotics and CT
within 1 hr of admission.
what can the CSF obtained from a lumbar puncture be used for
– Microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MCS)
– Protein
– Glucose (CSF and blood glucose)
– Viral PCR
what is the WBC in bacterial meningitis
100-20,000 mm ^2
what is the WBC in viral meningitis
5-500 mm^2