chronic meningitis?

    
      Re: chronic meningitis?
    


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum ] [ FAQ ]



Posted by CCF Neurology MD(B) on March 13, 1998 at 11:47:25:

In Reply to: chronic meningitis? posted by Lin on February 26, 1998 at 13:42:48:

: Could you please tell me if one could have a chronic, undiagnosed meningitis? If so, what would the symtoms (symptoms) be? Also, Can a complication of osteomyelitis be meningitis? Thank you in advance.
=Dear Lin, Patients with chronic persistent meningitis of obscure etiology always pose a diagnostic problem.  Such patients have fever, stiff neck, headache and minor focal neurological signs that are not diagnostic.  The CSF will show a predominately mononuclear(lymphocytic) pleocytosis(increased) plus a raised(mild) CSF pressure.  A viral or some other type of infective inflamation (inflammation) is always suspected, but a search by culture methods and serology yields negative results.  Sometimes the process resolves over a period of months or a year or more.  In other cases, the cause is eventually found.  Concerning osteomyelitis, this is caused by an infectious process involving the bone and bone marrow.  The agent is invariably a very aggressive bacteria.  While bacteria is one of the leading causes of meningitis, the symptons are much more severe and if not treated immmediately, severe neurological complications can arise resulting in permanent damage to the CNS and quite possibly death.  Therefore, it would be sxtremely unlikely that osteomyelitis could give rise to chronic meningitis.  Hope this helps.  "This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.  Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition."