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meningitis%20-%20acute,%20bacterial

MENINGITIS - ACUTE, BACTERIAL

Treatment Guideline Chart

Acute meningitis is the infection of the subarachnoid space and cerebrospinal fluid by bacteria that may cause local and systemic inflammatory response.
There is the classic triad of symptoms of fever, neck stiffness and altered level of consciousness.
Other symptoms include chills, myalgia, photophobia, severe headache, focal neurologic symptoms, nausea, vomiting, seizures and some patients may present with rash.

Meningitis%20-%20acute,%20bacterial Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

Definition

Meningitis is the infection of the meninges and subarachnoid space that is usually caused by bacteria results in high mortality and morbidity throughout the world

Etiology

The introduction of conjugated vaccines against H influenzae type B, N meningitidis and S pneumoniae caused decline in the incidence of bacterial meningitis in children thus, majority of cases are now present in the adult population
Causative agents depend on the age of the patient and predisposing factors

Alternative Causes of Meningitis

Spirochetes eg Treponema pallidum
Mycobacteria eg Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Fungi eg Cryptococcus, Coccidioides, Sporothrix
Viruses eg herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), enterovirus
Protozoa and helminths
Malignancy eg leukemia, lymphoma

Signs and Symptoms

Classic triad: Fever, neck stiffness and an altered level of consciousness is present in <50% of cases and some may have severe headache (especially in children) or any of the other symptoms:
- Chills
- Myalgia
- Photophobia
- Focal neurologic symptoms [eg cranial nerve palsies, ataxia, dilated/unequal and poorly reacting pupils (late sign)]
- Nausea/vomiting
- Seizures (late sign)
- Some patients may present with petechial rash