Meningitis, infectious
Inflammation of the meninges due to bacterial, viral, or protozoan infection. Most of the agents known to cause meningitis are infectious, but very few people exposed to them develop meningitis. Those at greatest risk for infectious meningitis include people with AIDS, infants, transplant patients, and others whose immune systems may be compromised. For this reason, infectious meningitis patients are almost always isolated until the risk of spreading the illness to others has passed.
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- Meningitis, cryptococcal
Diflucan) to prevent reinfection.
- Meningitis, Kernig sign of
This clinical hallmark of meningitis, inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, is tested for by having the person lie supine (flat on the back), flex the thigh so that it is at a right angle to the trunk, and completely extend the leg at the knee joint. If the […]
- Meningitis, meningococcal
Inflammation of the meninges due to infection with the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal meningitis typically starts like the flu, with the sudden onset of an intense headache, fever, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and malaise. But, unlike with the flu, a stiff neck and intolerance of lights are frequent symptoms of meningococcal meningitis. Within hours of […]
- Meningitis, Mollaret
A rare form of aseptic meningitis characterized by a recurrent pattern with symptom-free intervals between episodes. Symptoms of Mollaret meningitis, which last from 1 to 7 days, include headache, neck ache, fever, and neck stiffness. With this type of meningitis, there is usually rapid onset of symptoms and resolution without residual damage to the nervous […]
- Meningitis, neoplastic
A condition due to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to the meninges, the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. The term is a misnomer because the condition is not inflammatory. It is more properly called meningeal carcinoma or meningeal metastases.