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Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the most common neurologic emergencies in children, adolescents, and young adults. SE may be due to acute neurologic conditions such as meningitis, encephalitis, or stroke, complicated febrile seizures, intractable epilepsy, degenerative diseases, intoxication, or may be the first manifestation of epilepsy. Initial treatment of convulsive SE is usually with an intravenous benzodiazepine (BZD) [lorazepam (LZP) or diazepam (DZP)], phenobarbital (PB), or phenytoin (PHT). LZP is less likely to cause respiratory depression than DZP and is therefore preferred. Sequelae and risk for recurrence of SE are primarily related to the underlying cause. Refractory SE (RSE) is most often symptomatic of an acute neurologic condition or neurodegenerative disease. Treatment for RSE is difficult, usually requiring intensive support of vital functions. Reported treatments for RSE include very high dose PB, continuous infusions of pentobarbital or BZDs (DZP, midazolam), lidocaine, inhalation anesthesia, and propofol. Outcome is related to underlying cause. Nonconvulsive SE may present as confusion or may mimic psychiatric illness. Response to BZDs is usually rapid but may not be sustained. Rapid initiation of oral or rectal valproate may be useful. Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is almost always due to an acute or chronic destructive lesion. Surgical treatment may be the only effective modality in some children with EPC. Acute treatment of breakthrough seizures and clusters of seizures at home with rectal BZDs (usually DZP, 0.2-0.5 mg/kg) may prevent progression to SE in some children and adolescents and reduce the need for visits to emergency facilities.
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PMID:Status epilepticus and acute repetitive seizures in children, adolescents, and young adults: etiology, outcome, and treatment. 864 55

The authors report five cases of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in HIV-positive patients hospitalized in the Souro Sanou National Hospital Center of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). There were 3 men and 2 women with a mean age of 36 years (range: 29 to 47 years). Presenting symptoms were persistent headache and/or mental confusion and neurosensory defects. Cerebrospinal fluid was clear with less than 20 lymphocytes/mm3. Albumin concentration greater than 0.50 g/l was observed in only one case. India ink smear and culture demonstrated strains of Cryptococcus neoformans sensitive to amphotericin B in all five cases, flucytosin in 3 cases, and ketoconazole in two cases. Four patients died within 15 to 32 days after admission (mean 22.5 days). Delayed diagnosis and inconsistent availability of systemic antifungal drugs are major limiting factors in the management of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in Burkina Faso.
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PMID:[AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis at the Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital Center: five case reports]. 876 96

Thirty-nine Danish cases of Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia were reviewed to determine the clinical course of this infection. The cases of septicemia were related to recent dog bites or other close contact with dogs. The period from the bite to the onset of symptoms ranged from 1 to 8 days. The mean age of the patients was 59.1 years (range, 28-83 years). Underlying conditions included previous splenectomy and alcoholism. Thirteen patients had previously been in good health. Common initial symptoms were fever, malaise, myalgia, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspnea, confusion, headache and skin manifestations. Disseminated intravascular coagulation developed in 14 patients, meningitis in 5, and endocarditis in 1. Twelve of the patients died. All patients except two were treated with penicillin or ampicillin. Five patients had received antibiotics prior to admission. Attention should be drawn to C. canimorsus septicemia in cases of febrile illness following dog bites or contact with dogs, as well as those involving previously healthy persons. The incidence of this condition in Denmark is estimated to be 0.5 case per 1 million people per year.
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PMID:Capnocytophaga canimorsus septicemia in Denmark, 1982-1995: review of 39 cases. 881 32

Campylobacter fetus is an uncommon cause of meningitis in the adult. We report a case observed in an 84-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis. The patient presented fever, jaundice and a state of mental confusion. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures identified Campylobacter fetus sensitive to several antibiotics. Ciprofloxacine-ceftriaxone combination replaced the antibiotics prescribed empirically prior to identification and led to regression of the fever and normal mental status within 4 days. Spinal tap on day 7 showed 20 white cells, 85% lymphocytes and normal protein level. Unfortunately, the patient later developed edema and ascitis with major jaundice. Oligo-anuria could not be controlled and the patient died two weeks after admission. Campylobacter fetus meningitis is predominantly seen in men, mean age of onset 50 years. Clinical signs are not specific and diagnosis can only be obtained on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid results. Adapted antibiotics are required.
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PMID:[Campylobacter fetus meningitis in adults]. 894 43

Three cases with S. suis bacteremia and meningitis were reported. The first case was a 23-year-old butcher who was a regular drinker of alcohol for two years and developed streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome. The organism was transmitted to him through a minor cut in his right arm. The second cases was a 49-year-old female laborer who had been consuming locally produced alcohol for 20 years and developed fever and meningitis. Unfortunately, she succumbed in seven days despite intensive supportive and cefotaxime treatments. The third case was a 45-year-old regular alcoholic drinker and car painter who was seen at a private hospital due to contusion at his left lateral chest wall. However, fever and confusion due to meningitis was detected upon admission. Irreversible deafness developed within 48 hours of ceftriaxone therapy for meningitis. He finally recovered with deafness. S. suis was isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures in all three cases though initially reported to be viridans group of streptococci.
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PMID:Streptococcus suis toxic-shock syndrome and meningitis. 907 19

Awareness of the relative prevalence of diseases causing altered states of consciousness (ASC) in a particular geographic locality could greatly facilitate the approach to patient management. This prospective study has, therefore, evaluated 202 patients with ASC admitted to the medical wards of GCMS teaching hospital in a two year period, between January 1994 and December 1995. ASC was defined as a clinical state manifested by conditions ranging from confusion and disorientation in person, place and time to stupor and deep coma. History, physical examination, limited laboratory tests and course of the patient in the hospital were used to identify the aetiology. There were 122 (60.4%) males and 80 (39.6%) females with male to female ratio of 3:2. Most of the patients, 122 (60.4%), belong to the age group below 40 years and the median age was 33 years (range = 15.84). The median duration of hospital stay was six days (range = 1-90). The commonest cause was infections, 111 (55%) followed by metabolic disorders, 45 (22.3%), structural lesions, 30 (14.9%) and poisoning, seven (3.5%). The aetiology was not identified in nine (4.5%) of the patients. Cerebral malaria was the commonest infectious cause followed by chronic meningitis and/or encephalitis. In hospital mortality rate was 60.4%. Unknown diagnosis, structural neurologic and metabolic causes were associated with increased mortality rate, with p values of 0.002, 0.009 and 0.015, respectively. The same was true for presence of HIV infection, P = 0.02. Since infectious causes are the commonest causes in our series, of which most are treatable with a relatively favourable outcome, critical evaluation for infections and early intervention is recommended. In addition, diagnostic facilities, especially for structural central nervous system lesions has to be improved because successful treatment and prognosis depends on the identification of a specific aetiology.
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PMID:Aetiology and outcome of non-traumatic altered states of consciousness in north western Ethiopia. 914 79

A 65-year-old man with primary haemochromatosis was admitted because of fever and confusion. He was found to have bacteraemia and meningitis due to Listeria monocytogenes. Treatment with ampicillin plus tobramycin was instituted, and despite an initial improvement, the patient experienced an unfavourable course and died. At postmortem examination, tricuspid valve endocarditis and purulent pericarditis with tamponade were detected. Listeria monocytogenes grew in the culture of the pericardial fluid. Documentation of Listeria monocytogenes pericarditis is extremely rare, and data on the patient described and on seven published cases are reported.
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PMID:Fatal Listeria meningitis, endocarditis and pericarditis in a patient with haemochromatosis. 925 96

Studies of bacterial meningitis have documented a peak of incidence among persons age 60 and older. The most common bacterial pathogens in these patients differ from those seen in children. Presentation of meningitis in older patients may be atypical; fever is not a consistent finding, and nonspecific symptoms such as confusion are often seen. Nuchal rigidity is not as sensitive nor as specific a sign as in younger patients. Definitive diagnosis relies on interpretation of CSF studies. Ampicillin plus a third-generation cephalosporin should be administered for community-acquired meningitis until Gram's stain and culture results return. Cases of S pneumoniae meningitis may require varying strategies, based upon the degree of penicillin resistance.
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PMID:Meningitis in older patients: how to diagnose and treat a deadly infection. 926 Dec 85

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of pediatric invasive infections and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In the past, S. pneumoniae responded universally to penicillin until nonsusceptible isolates were first noted in the 1960s. Before 1990, penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates remained a minor component of all reported isolates. Since that time, 20-30% of isolates in many centers in the United States and up to 50% of isolates in some other countries are penicillin-nonsusceptible. Of greater concern has been the development of isolates which are nonsusceptible to more than one antimicrobial agent. This review presents data on pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease in Arkansas and outlines the new treatment recommendations which have been developed in response to these problems. Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen worldwide and is considered the most common etiology of bacterial sinusitis, otitis media, pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia. Before 1990, 95-96% of pneumococcal isolates were susceptible to penicillin. The first report of penicillin-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae was made by Hansman and Bullen in 1967, who identified the strain in the sputum of a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia. Soon thereafter, penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci were reported in New Guinea and Australia as well. Over the last several years, the incidence of penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates has greatly increased. Of particular concern is the concomitant increase in the number of organisms that are nonsusceptible to more than one antimicrobial agent. Due to the development of such isolates, clinicians are having to approach patients with invasive disease due to pneumococci more cautiously. In an attempt to clarify confusion with terminology, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended the same nomenclature be used to classify resistance for all organisms: nonsusceptible organisms are those with an MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) greater than or equal to that defined for the intermediate category of resistance and the term resistant should be reserved for those organisms with an MIC greater than or equal to that defined for the resistant category. Therefore, resistant isolates are a subgroup of the nonsusceptible isolates.
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PMID:The approach to treatment of invasive pneumococcal disease in the 1990s. 939 28

We report a case in which the signs of a malignant meningitis could have been confused with complications of an in-dwelling epidural catheter which was being used for analgesia. This confusion could have had disastrous implications for the patient's pain relief. We also discuss some of the issues and problems surrounding the use of in-dwelling epidurals in terminal care patients.
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PMID:Epidural complications and a case of malignant meningitis. 951 72


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