photo.jpg

# Meningitis ## Slide 7 of 36 This account does not allow editing on you... ### Risk Factors * Skipping vaccinations * Age-Viral meningitis occur in children younger than age 5. * Bacterial meningitis is common in those under age 20. * Living in a community setting * Pregnancy * Compromised imm...

# Meningitis ## Slide 7 of 36 This account does not allow editing on you... ### Risk Factors * Skipping vaccinations * Age-Viral meningitis occur in children younger than age 5. * Bacterial meningitis is common in those under age 20. * Living in a community setting * Pregnancy * Compromised immune system * AIDS * Alcoholism * Diabetes * Use of immunosuppressant drugs etc. ### Pathophysiology * The causative organism enters the bloodstream, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and triggers an inflammatory reaction in the meninges. * Bacterial invasion leads to a rapidly increased blood supply to the meninges with massive neutrophil migration. * The neutrophils then engulf the bacteria and disintegrate. * Exudate from tissue destruction contributes to purulent material. * Inflammation of the subarachnoid and pia mater occurs. * Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) results. * Excessive release of ADH. * ADH acts by inhibiting urination. * This in turn leads to water retention, oliguria, hypervolemia, hyponatremia and further increase in ICP. ### Meningitis * Meningeal infections generally originate in one of two ways: * Through the bloodstream from other infections (cellulitis, respiratory infections) or * By direct extension after a traumatic injury to the facial bones. * Bacterial or meningococcal meningitis also occurs as an opportunistic infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and as a complication of Lyme disease (infection due to bite of infected tick). * **Headache and fever** - the initial symptoms; headache is usually either steady or throbbing and very severe as a result of meningeal irritation. * Meningeal irritation results in...