Transcript Indezine Template

What is it?
Causes
Symptoms
What’s Happening
Diagnosis
Treatments
Research
What is it?
Inflammation of the
meninges
or
Swelling of the
Cerebrospinal Fluid
(CSF)
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Causes
• Bacterial
• Pneumococcal Meningitus (S. Pneumonia)
• Meningococcal Meningitis (N meningitidis)
• Very contagious (college, military, etc)
• Viral
• Most common
• Typically mild and non-lethal
• Fungal
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Symptoms
• Early symptoms are flu-like leading to delayed diagnosis
• Severe headache
• Sudden fever
• Stiff neck
• Nausea
• Later symptoms
• Seizures
• Stupor
• Coma
• Death
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What’s happening
• Pathogen enters
bloodstream
• Survives host immune
system
• Invades Blood Brain Barrier
(BBB)
• Science not sure how it
does this (PhD anyone?)
• Replicate in subarachnoid
space
http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/186/Supplement_2/S22
5.long
Illustration found at http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia
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More details
• The exposure of cells
to pathogens can
trigger increased
production of
Cytokines, TNF, and
other inflammatory
agents
http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/186/Supplement_2/S225.long
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• Inflammatory
agents will
degrade BBB
allowing intake
of leukocytes
and other fluids.
• Increased
pressure may
physically press
hind brain into
brain stem
causing death1
Illustration found at: http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/186/Supplement_2/S225.lon
Journal of Infectious Diseases Volume183, Issue12 Pp. 1749-1759
1 – Personal communication with Dr. David R. Boulware
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More Details
• Bacterial wall may
trigger iNOS to
release NO leading
to metabolic
pathways that
trigger greater
inflammatory
responses and
glucose depletion.
This leads to cell
necropsy.
Journal of Infectious Diseases Volume183, Issue12 Pp. 1749-1759
Lymphokine Cytokine Res. 1992 Dec;11(6):293-8
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Diagnosis
• Neurological exam
• strength, coordination, speech, vision
• Lab screening of blood, urine, body secretions
• Looking for antibodies, foreign proteins
• Throat culture for bacteria
• Spinal tap
• Looking for blood, bacteria, WBC, low glucose
• CT scan or MRI looking for swelling of meninges
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Treatment
• All: EARLY TREATMENT ESSENTIAL
• Corticosteroids to reduce swelling and potential
damage
• Bacterial
• Antibiotics, intravenously in severe cases
• Sinuses drained
• Viral
• Bed rest, fluids, dark room
• Fungal
• Anti-fungal medication
Personal communication with Dr. David R. Boulware
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Research
•
•
•
•
•
•
CNS response to inflammation
Role of T-cell in suppression of infection in the brain
How the BBB is initially breached
Role of NOS isoforms in inflammatory response
Biochemical pathways of inflammatory response
Neuroprotective compounds that block post infection
damage that leads to loss of cognitive function and
dementia
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Personal communication with Dr. David R. Boulware
Journal of Infectious Diseases Volume183, Issue12 Pp. 1749-1759
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