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When looking at the most common causes of meningitis, 8.3% are due to herpes simplex virus. [8] HSV-2 specifically is the most common cause of meningitis in adults. [6] Herpesviral meningitis primarily affects people aged 35–40, the elderly, and women. [9] Between 20% and 50% of cases have clinical recurrences. [3]
The headache in chronic meningitis is commonly described as diffuse, poorly localized, and constant. Lethargy is a common symptom, with 40% of those having mental status changes. [2] The inflammation can affect the cranial nerves as they course through the subarachnoid space leading to cranial nerve palsies.
Risk of infection with Listeria monocytogenes is increased in people over 50 years old. [3] [8] The introduction of pneumococcal vaccine has lowered rates of pneumococcal meningitis in both children and adults. [28] A head injury potentially allows nasal cavity bacteria to enter the meningeal space.
CSF glucose levels can be useful in distinguishing among causes of meningitis as more than 50% of patients with bacterial meningitis have decreased CSF glucose levels while patients with viral meningitis usually have normal CSF glucose levels. Decrease in glucose levels during a CNS infection is caused due to glycolysis by both white cells and ...
Meningococcal meningitis is a form of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation and irritation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. In meningococcal meningitis this is caused by the bacteria invading the cerebrospinal fluid and circulating through the central nervous system. Sub ...
The risk also increases in older adults. A study carried out for Meningitis Now revealed that 96% of people aged over 65 do not consider themselves to be at risk from meningitis and septicaemia ...
A CSF fungal culture can tell if there is a microbiological failure (failure of the fungal infections to treat the infection). CSF fungal culture has a 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. CSF cell analysis is characterized by increased lymphocytes, reduced protein, and reduced glucose. [17]
People with cranial CSF leaks, the rarer form, have a 10% risk of developing meningitis per year. [55] If cranial leaks last more than seven days, the chances of developing meningitis are significantly higher. [55] Spinal CSF leaks cannot result in meningitis due to the sterile conditions of the leak site. [24]