Meningitis differential diagnosis: Difference between revisions
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==Differentiating Meningitis from other Diseases== | ==Differentiating Meningitis from other Diseases== | ||
*[[Brain abscess]] - Brain | *[[Brain abscess]] - Brain abscess is a focal infection of the brain parenchyma commonly caused by bacteria, fungal and parasitic pathogens. Imaging and neurosurgical aspiration is required for is differentiation in addition to [[CSF]] profile. | ||
*[[Encephalitis]] - Encephatlitis is the inflammation of brain. Meningitis can itself cause encephalitis and is called [[meningoencephalitis]]. The symptoms appear gradually in encephalitis but occur abruptly in meningitis. | *[[Encephalitis]] - Encephatlitis is the inflammation of brain. Meningitis can itself cause encephalitis and is called [[meningoencephalitis]]. The symptoms appear gradually in encephalitis but occur abruptly in meningitis. | ||
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*[[Delirium tremens]] - Delirium tremens and alcohol withdrawal should be differentiated from meningitis especially when present with confusion and fever. Both the conditions can coexist. | *[[Delirium tremens]] - Delirium tremens and alcohol withdrawal should be differentiated from meningitis especially when present with confusion and fever. Both the conditions can coexist. | ||
*[[Brain tumor]] - Brain | *[[Brain tumor]] - Brain tumors can simulate purulent meningitis with symptoms of [[fever]], signs of meningeal irritation and marked CSF pleocytosis. Irritation of leptomeninges by tumor and its breakdown products causes these symptoms<ref name="pmid1278192">Soffer D (1976) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=1278192 Brain tumors simulating purulent meningitis.] ''Eur Neurol'' 14 (3):192-7. PMID: [http://pubmed.gov/1278192 1278192]</ref>. Determination of creatine kinase BB and carcinoembryonic antigenhelps in differentiating.<ref name="pmid3883130">Terheggen HG (1985) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=3883130 [CNS tumors with the clinical picture of meningitis].] ''Monatsschr Kinderheilkd'' 133 (1):13-9. PMID: [http://pubmed.gov/3883130 3883130]</ref> | ||
*[[Subarachnoid hemorrhage]] - Subarachnoid hemorrhage also presents with severe [[headache]], [[neck stiffness]], [[nausea]] and [[vomiting]] like meningitis. It is a medical emergency. Imaging studies help in differentiating. Tubercular meningitis should ]be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.<ref name="pmid14585453">Yeh ST, Lee WJ, Lin HJ, Chen CY, Te AL, Lin HJ (2003) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=14585453 Nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to tuberculous meningitis: report of two cases.] ''J Emerg Med'' 25 (3):265-70. PMID: [http://pubmed.gov/14585453 14585453]</ref> | *[[Subarachnoid hemorrhage]] - Subarachnoid hemorrhage also presents with severe [[headache]], [[neck stiffness]], [[nausea]] and [[vomiting]] like meningitis. It is a medical emergency. Imaging studies help in differentiating. Tubercular meningitis should ]be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.<ref name="pmid14585453">Yeh ST, Lee WJ, Lin HJ, Chen CY, Te AL, Lin HJ (2003) [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=14585453 Nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to tuberculous meningitis: report of two cases.] ''J Emerg Med'' 25 (3):265-70. PMID: [http://pubmed.gov/14585453 14585453]</ref> | ||
Revision as of 21:16, 29 November 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Meningitis Main Page |
Differentiating Meningitis from other Diseases
- Brain abscess - Brain abscess is a focal infection of the brain parenchyma commonly caused by bacteria, fungal and parasitic pathogens. Imaging and neurosurgical aspiration is required for is differentiation in addition to CSF profile.
- Encephalitis - Encephatlitis is the inflammation of brain. Meningitis can itself cause encephalitis and is called meningoencephalitis. The symptoms appear gradually in encephalitis but occur abruptly in meningitis.
- Delirium tremens - Delirium tremens and alcohol withdrawal should be differentiated from meningitis especially when present with confusion and fever. Both the conditions can coexist.
- Brain tumor - Brain tumors can simulate purulent meningitis with symptoms of fever, signs of meningeal irritation and marked CSF pleocytosis. Irritation of leptomeninges by tumor and its breakdown products causes these symptoms[1]. Determination of creatine kinase BB and carcinoembryonic antigenhelps in differentiating.[2]
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage - Subarachnoid hemorrhage also presents with severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting like meningitis. It is a medical emergency. Imaging studies help in differentiating. Tubercular meningitis should ]be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.[3]
References
- ↑ Soffer D (1976) Brain tumors simulating purulent meningitis. Eur Neurol 14 (3):192-7. PMID: 1278192
- ↑ Terheggen HG (1985) [CNS tumors with the clinical picture of meningitis.] Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 133 (1):13-9. PMID: 3883130
- ↑ Yeh ST, Lee WJ, Lin HJ, Chen CY, Te AL, Lin HJ (2003) Nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to tuberculous meningitis: report of two cases. J Emerg Med 25 (3):265-70. PMID: 14585453