How to test for meningitis?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Meningitis is a very common disease in neurology, and the most common causes are infections, including viral infections, common bacterial infections, tuberculosis infections, and fungal infections. The main methods of examination for meningitis are as follows: First, physical examination. A physical examination can reveal neck stiffness in the patient, and positive meningeal irritation signs. These examinations are non-invasive and very safe. Second, a lumbar puncture can also be performed. A lumbar puncture can be used to observe whether the fluid pressure is high, and also to collect cerebrospinal fluid to examine its color, perform cytological and biochemical analyses, and culture the cerebrospinal fluid. This is very important to definitively determine the presence of meningitis and to identify the type of infectious agent involved. Additionally, enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can also be performed to see if there is significant enhancement of the meninges.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is meningitis scary?

Is meningitis a frightening disease? Meningitis can be very frightening if the condition progresses quickly, or if it is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Many patients often suffer from after-effects following recovery, such as decreased intelligence, dementia, aphasia, paralysis, etc., significantly impacting the quality of life. Therefore, meningitis is a quite frightening disease, and patients should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment to save lives and minimize or reduce the occurrence of after-effects.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 40sec home-news-image

Differences between Viral Meningitis and Tuberculous Meningitis

Virial meningitis and tuberculous meningitis sometimes require additional differentiation in clinical practice because their treatment plans are significantly different. Virial meningitis has a relatively abrupt onset and is caused by a viral infection, generally having a good prognosis. Patients with tuberculous meningitis usually exhibit symptoms of tuberculosis toxicity such as low fever, night sweats, and fatigue before the onset of the disease. Commonly, other forms of tuberculosis can be identified, such as pulmonary tuberculosis or intestinal tuberculosis. An important diagnostic tool for differentiation is the lumbar puncture. In viral meningitis, the lumbar puncture pressure is generally not particularly high, whereas in tuberculous meningitis, the lumbar puncture pressure is very high, reaching over 400 mm of water column. Additionally, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in tuberculous meningitis is yellowish, and its protein levels are significantly elevated, as are its white blood cell counts, typically ranging from 50 to 500 × 10^6/L. In tuberculous meningitis, the levels of glucose and chloride in the cerebrospinal fluid are significantly decreased, especially chloride, which is a prominent indicator for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis. In contrast, such clear changes are not observed in the lumbar puncture for viral meningitis. Another aspect to consider is the treatment response; if antiviral treatment is ineffective, the possibility of tuberculous meningitis should be considered.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 8sec home-news-image

How to test for meningitis?

Meningitis is a very common disease in neurology, and the most common causes are infections, including viral infections, common bacterial infections, tuberculosis infections, and fungal infections. The main methods of examination for meningitis are as follows: First, physical examination. A physical examination can reveal neck stiffness in the patient, and positive meningeal irritation signs. These examinations are non-invasive and very safe. Second, a lumbar puncture can also be performed. A lumbar puncture can be used to observe whether the fluid pressure is high, and also to collect cerebrospinal fluid to examine its color, perform cytological and biochemical analyses, and culture the cerebrospinal fluid. This is very important to definitively determine the presence of meningitis and to identify the type of infectious agent involved. Additionally, enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can also be performed to see if there is significant enhancement of the meninges.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to test for meningitis?

The main methods for meningitis examination are lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid testing. Cerebrospinal fluid examination may show increased pressure, turbid appearance, and purulent changes, containing a large number of white blood cells and neutrophils. Routine blood tests may also show a white blood cell count significantly higher than normal, predominantly composed of immature neutrophils. Additionally, it is possible to check electrolytes and use auxiliary diagnostic tools such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to confirm the diagnosis, facilitating early detection and treatment.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
42sec home-news-image

Is meningitis serious?

Meningitis is a common infectious disease of the central nervous system. Patients with meningitis often experience symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and neck stiffness. As the disease progresses, they may also experience seizures, motor disorders, disturbed consciousness, coma, and other conditions, with severe cases posing a risk to life. Many patients can still have sequelae after recovery, such as speech impairments, hemiplegia, and decreased intelligence. Therefore, meningitis is a very serious disease, and patients should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment after becoming ill.