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Lumbar puncture (LP), also known as a spinal tap, is a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal, most commonly to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic testing. The main reason for a lumbar puncture is to help diagnose diseases of the central nervous system, including the brain and
Aseptic meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, a membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, in patients whose cerebral spinal fluid test result is negative with routine bacterial cultures. Aseptic meningitis is caused by viruses , mycobacteria , spirochetes , fungi , medications , and cancer malignancies. [ 1 ]
There are no specific signs or symptoms that can indicate meningitis, and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to examine the cerebrospinal fluid is recommended for diagnosis. [47] Lumbar puncture is contraindicated if there is a mass in the brain (tumor or abscess) or the intracranial pressure (ICP) is elevated, as it may lead to brain herniation.
Chronic meningitis is defined by signs and symptoms being present longer than four weeks and includes pleocytosis, or the presence of inflammatory cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. [2] The initial test is usually a lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid for analysis.
Aseptic meningitis, meningitis caused by pathogens other than bacteria, is the most common form of meningitis with an estimate of 70 cases per 100,000 patients less than 1 year old, 5.2 cases per 100,000 patients 1 to 14 years of age, and 7.6 cases per 100,000 adults.
Meningitis, whether acute or chronic, is by definition an inflammation of the meninges. This can be due to both infectious or non-infectious reasons. DIAM is a noninfectious meningitis that is associated with the use of certain medications listed above.
The fungus behind a spate of deadly meningitis cases last year linked to medical clinics in ... fungus in the lab from spinal fluid; the sample that was successfully cultured came from the brain ...
Lumbar puncture ("spinal tap") is used to acquire CSF. The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test of the CSF is the preferred test for making a diagnosis of neurosyphilis. [14] A positive test confirms neurosyphilis but a negative result does not rule out neurosyphilis.