Re: chronic meningitis?
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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 be? Also, Can a complication of
osteomyelitisMalignant otitis externa
Osteomyelitis be meningitis? Thank you in
advanceAdvance care plus
Advance relief.
=Dear Lin, Patients with chronic persistent meningitis of obscure etiology always pose a diagnostic problem. Such patients have
feverAllergic rhinitis
Coccidioidomycosis
Febrile seizures
Fever
Fever blister
Fever blisters and canker sores
Herpes labialis (oral herpes simplex)
Histoplasmosis
Malaria
Rheumatic fever
Scarlet fever, stiff
neckCervical spondylosis
Head and neck glands
Herpes zoster (shingles) on the neck and cheek
Irritated seborrheic kerotosis - neck
Lymph tissue in the head and neck.
Melanoma - neck
Neck lump
Neck pain
Neck pulse
Neck x-ray
Oral cancer, headache and minor
focalFocal neurological deficits neurological signs that are not diagnostic. The
CSFCerebral spinal fluid (csf) collection
Csf cell count
Csf chemistry
Csf protein test
Csf total protein
Glucose test - 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."