The CNS is responsible for processing and transmitting information throughout the body.
The brain and the spinal cord.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges.
Common symptoms include headache, fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental status.
An infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
Cognitive impairment and dementia.
Inflammation of the outer layer of the meninges (the dura mater).
Nonspecific symptoms.
Bacteria, Virus, Fungus, Mycoplasma, Spirochaetes.
Yes, the affecting organisms change according to age.
Clear the airway.
1. Incubation, 2. Prodrome, 3. Acute neurogenic period, 4. Coma, 5. Death.
Staphylococcus aureus.
Most people recover on their own; it is self-limiting.
Meningitis, Encephalitis, and Meningoencephalitis.
It is more severe than viral meningitis.
Certain chemicals and drugs can cause meningitis by inducing inflammation of the meninges.
Administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
By the bite of a rabid animal.
Control of seizures both immediately and long-term.
Mycobacteria, some spirochetes, and fungi.
Inflammation of the meninges.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Sarcoidosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Headache, photophobia, irritability, clouding of consciousness, and neck stiffness.
Headache, vomiting, papilledema, convulsions, focal neurological signs, fever, and accompaniments.
Meningovascular, Parenchymatous (including Tabetic/tabes dorsalis and Paretic), and Congenital.
Inflammation of the inner two layers of the meninges (the arachnoid mater and pia mater).
Acute pyogenic meningitis.
It markedly reduces mortality.
With neurological signs and without neurological signs.
History and physical examination.
General care.
HIV can cause meningoencephalitis as part of its neurological complications.
The brain.
Mosquitoes, particularly the Culex species.
Malaise, fever, and headache.
Insidious progressive loss of mental and physical functions, mood alterations (including delusions of grandeur), and eventually severe dementia.
Anopheles mosquitoes.
Enteroviruses (Picorna)
Muscle stiffness, lockjaw, difficulty swallowing, and muscle spasms.
Secondary effects.
Signs of meningeal irritation.
It may cause fatal brain herniation, and abscess rupture can lead to ventriculitis, meningitis, and venous sinus thrombosis.
Investigations.
By birth.
Treponema pallidum.
Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific regions.
Impaired joint position sense and ataxia, loss of pain sensation leading to skin and joint damage (Charcot joints), and other sensory disturbances.
Tabetic.
No, except for brain swelling which may be seen in some instances.
A condition that involves both meningitis and encephalitis, affecting both the brain and its surrounding membranes.
A clinical sign where there is resistance to straightening the leg when the hip is flexed, indicating meningitis.
Elderly, children, immunodeficient patients, and those with subacute meningitis.
Pus forming.
Trauma can cause meningitis by allowing pathogens to enter the central nervous system.
Vital functions.
Observations.
Evacuation of the abscess or excision.
Haemophilus influenzae
Neisseria meningitidis
Enterobacter species.
Vaccination with the tetanus toxoid vaccine.
An inflammation of the brain itself, usually caused by a viral infection.
It can be fatal.
Acute loss of consciousness and progressive loss of consciousness.
The rabies virus, a member of the Lyssavirus genus.
Control of raised intracranial pressure.
Mainly spinal cord involvement.
Diagnosis is typically made through clinical evaluation, imaging studies, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin.
Respiratory failure.
Early treatment with PEP can prevent the onset of rabies symptoms and is crucial for survival.
Meningovascular.
Symptomatically
Yes, infections with these organisms may also involve the brain parenchyma.
Fever, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, and Kerning’s sign.
Progressive drowsiness and coma, focal neurological signs.
Loss of consciousness.
It is an inflammation of the brain and meninges caused by viral infections.
Extraordinary CNS excitability; the slightest touch is painful, with violent motor responses progressing to convulsions. Contracture of the pharyngeal musculature may create an aversion to swallowing even water (hydrophobia).
Mainly brain involvement.
Usually a few months.
80%
High fever, seizures, confusion, and coma.
Through wounds contaminated with Clostridium tetani spores.
Photophobia.
Carcinomatosis refers to the spread of cancer cells to the meninges, leading to meningitis.
Patients almost invariably present with progressive focal deficits as well as general signs related to increased intracranial pressure.
Rabies virus.
A manifestation of the tertiary stage of syphilis that occurs in about 10% of individuals with untreated infection.
Rabies can cause encephalitis, leading to symptoms such as agitation, hydrophobia, and paralysis.
Fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures and paralysis.
No, rabies is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms appear.
Streptococcus viridans.
Plasmodium falciparum.
Anaerobic bacteria.
Tetanospasmin.
Normal (N)
Opalescent
Rabies is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.
General supportive measures.
A localized focus of necrosis of brain tissue with accompanying inflammation, usually caused by a bacterial infection.
A bacterial infection.
Staphylococcus aureus
Beta-hemolytic streptococci.
Hydrocephalus and Hutchinson triad.
Highly increased (↑↑)
Increased (↑)
Jaw cramping, muscle stiffness, and difficulty swallowing.
No, tetanus is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Proper wound care can prevent the entry of Clostridium tetani spores into the body.
The stages include asymptomatic, meningovascular, tabes dorsalis, and general paresis.
Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation and improve outcomes in bacterial meningitis.
Vaccination can prevent infections like meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae.
The dorsal roots of the spinal cord.
Symptoms can include headache, fever, confusion, and neurological deficits.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pyogenes
Viral meningitis is less severe than bacterial meningitis.
Either no recognizable abnormality or a mild to moderate leptomeningeal lymphocytic infiltrate.
Polymorphonuclear cells (P)
Opal/clear
It interferes with nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscles, causing severe muscle spasms and stiffness.
Because the toxin can cause severe complications and be potentially fatal if not treated promptly.
By ensuring maternal vaccination and proper hygiene during childbirth.
Neurosyphilis is an infection of the CNS by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, often caused by viral infections.
Highly increased (↑↑)
Lymphocytes (L)
Through vaccination with the tetanus toxoid vaccine.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent rabies.
Symptoms include fever, headache, confusion, seizures, and sometimes focal neurological deficits.
Antifungal medications, such as amphotericin B and flucytosine.
Antiparasitic medications, such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine.
Clear
Lymphocytes (L)
Lymphocytes (L) and Polymorphonuclear cells (P)
Decreased (↓)
Lockjaw.
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the CNS, leading to encephalitis and often death if untreated.
CSF findings include elevated white blood cell count, normal or slightly elevated protein, and normal glucose levels.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir.
Opal/cobweb
Through wounds or cuts that come into contact with contaminated objects.
Lymphocytes (L)
Typically 3 to 21 days, but it can range from 1 day to several months.
Rabies is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.
The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to assess the level of consciousness in patients with CNS infections.
Enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis.
Antifungal medications and sometimes surgical intervention.
Increased (↑)
Decreased (↓)
Decreased (↓)
Tetanospasmin.
Every 10 years.
Bacterial meningitis is primarily caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae.
The blood-brain barrier protects the CNS from pathogens but also makes it difficult for medications to reach the brain.
Lumbar puncture is used to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis to diagnose CNS infections.
Cryptococcus neoformans is a primary cause of fungal meningitis.
Symptoms include headache, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
Toxoplasma gondii is a common cause.
Purulent
Lymphocytes (L) and Polymorphonuclear cells (P)
Clear
Administration of tetanus antitoxin, antibiotics, and supportive care to manage symptoms.
A form of tetanus that occurs in newborns, often due to infection of the umbilical stump.
Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges caused by viral infections, often less severe than bacterial meningitis.
The primary treatment is intravenous antibiotics.
Symptoms include headache, fever, focal neurological deficits, and altered mental status.
Treponema pallidum.
Symptoms include rapidly progressive dementia, ataxia, and myoclonus.
Highly increased (↑↑)
Decreased (↓)
Clostridium tetani.
Decreased (↓)
Soil, dust, and animal feces.
The prognosis is generally good, but recovery can be slow and may require prolonged medical care.
Common pathogens include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Treponema pallidum.
Treatment is usually supportive, including rest, fluids, and pain relievers.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is commonly used.
Symptoms include headache, altered mental status, and focal neurological deficits.
Aspergillus species.
Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of the jaw and neck muscles.
Increased (↑)
Severe muscle spasms, respiratory failure, and death.
They help to control muscle spasms and stiffness.
A brain abscess is a collection of pus caused by an infection within the brain tissue.
CSF findings include elevated white blood cell count, elevated protein, and decreased glucose levels.
A brain abscess can cause severe neurological deficits and requires prompt treatment.
Treatment includes a combination of antituberculous drugs.
Abnormal prion proteins.
Treatment includes antibiotics and sometimes surgical drainage.
Intravenous penicillin.
There is currently no effective treatment for prion diseases.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common cause.
