Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0085437 (bacterial meningitis)
 4,038 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To be effective, treatment of meningitis should be based on the history and physical examination, careful examination of the cerebrospinal fluid, and good clinical judgment regarding the most likely pathogen. Meningitis in adults is usually caused by certain common viruses and bacteria, although atypical pathogens should be considered in immunocompromised patients. Supportive therapy measures are appropriate for viral disease, and intravenous acyclovir (Zovirax) may be given if infection with herpes simplex virus is suspected. In cases of presumed bacterial meningitis, antimicrobial agents should be selected that penetrate the blood-brain barrier and maintain activity against the most likely pathogens; antibiotic therapy should be instituted right away, along with supportive measures. Although corticosteroids have proven benefits in the treatment of pediatric populations with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis, their effectiveness in adults has not yet been established. Prophylaxis with vaccines or rifampin is sometimes useful.
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PMID:Adult meningitis. Rapid identification for prompt treatment. 841 63

Acute encephalitis is mainly of viral origin. Two groups of are considered: i) primary encephalitis, such as Herpes simplex encephalitis with intra-thecal synthesis of antibodies, and ii) post-viral infection encephalitis or acute disseminated encephalitis with immune dysregulation. The most common clinical presentation (fever, consciousness disturbance and seizures) is not specific and may reveal bacterial meningitis or cerebral abscess which require a specific treatment. Acyclovir has allowed consistant advances in the treatment of herpes encephalitis. Vaccination against selected viral infection, such as measle vaccine, is the only way to prevent acute disseminated encephalitis.
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PMID:[Acute encephalitis in children]. 878 67

A 28 years old female presented with headache, fever, altered sensorium and right side weakness for one week. She was febrile and drowsy with right sided hemiplegia and papilledema. Tuberculous or bacterial meningitis, tuberculoma and abscess were at the top of the diagnosis list followed by Herpes simplex meningo-encephalitis (HSE). MRI showed abnormal signal intensity of left temporal lobe without significant post-contrast enhancement and midline shift. CSF examination was normal, gram stain and Ziehl-Neelsen stain showed no micro-organism, or acid fast bacilli. CSF for MTB PCR was negative. PCR DNA for Herpes simplex 1 on CSF was detected. Acyclovir was started and the patient was discharged after full recovery. A high index of suspicion is required for HSE diagnosis in Pakistan where other infections predominantly affect the brain and HSE may be overlooked as a potential diagnosis.
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PMID:Herpes simplex encephalitis presenting with normal CSF analysis. 2416 94