cerebral inflammation tutorial

Question 1

what is an infection to spinal cord known as

Answer 1

myelitis

Question 2

what is infection called when both brain and spinal cord are involved

Answer 2

encephalomyelitis

Question 3

contrast the types of infections that cause encephalitis vs meningitis

Answer 3

encephalitis: more viral,
meningitis: more bacterial that usually cause an upper respiratory tract infection and then travel through the blood to the brain

Question 4

examples of viruses that cause encephalitis

Answer 4

Herpes Simplex, measles, varicella (chickenpox), rubella (German measles)

Question 5

most serious type of meningitis

Answer 5

most serious is pneumococcal - streptococcus pneumoniae;

Question 6

2 other types of meningitis

Answer 6

meningococcal - Neisseria meningitides;

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae b–
reduced by Hib vaccination, previously a leading cause in children under 5).

Question 7

compare and contrast presentations of encephalitis and meningitis

Answer 7

encephalitis: fever, confusion, disorientation, altered behaviour, seizures,

meningitis: sudden fever, nausea and vomiting, rash

—severe headache, double vision, sensitivity to bright light, stiff neck, —

(all these symptoms between dashes remind me of migrane symptoms- think Migrane Meningitis)

Question 8

what is a diagnostic test finding that is different in encephalitis and meningitis

Answer 8

CSF from lumbar puncture can be unclear and low glucose in meningitis but not so much in encephalitis. raised wbc in csf general sign of inflammation

Question 9

what diagnostic tests can be performed to diagnose cerebral inflammations

Answer 9

neuro exam, CT, MRI, blood, urine analysis, (lumbar puncture csf… mentioned before)

Question 10

what treatment options are common for cerebral inflammations

Answer 10

antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids (reduce inflammation), immune supressors