Question 1

A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)sample collected from a child yields the following results: turbid and cloudy,very high total protein levels,and very low glucose levels.What would the probable diagnosis be?

Accepted Answer

In acute bacterial meningitis,the CSF is turbid or cloudy because protein levels are significantly raised.Glucose levels are very low (less than 40% of serum glucose concentration)in most patients with bacterial meningitis.

Question 2

What are the most common bacteria isolated from nontraumatic brain abscesses?

Accepted Answer

The most common organism isolated from nontraumatic brain abscesses include aerobic,anaerobic,and microaerophilic streptococci.

Question 3

Where do most cerebral abscesses spread from?

Accepted Answer

The majority of cerebral abscess occur because of spread from a contiguous focus of infection in the middle ear,mastoid cells,or paranasal sinuses.

Question 4

Diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS)infections is based on:

Accepted Answer

The diagnosis of CNS infections is based on examination of CSF samples obtained by lumbar puncture.

Question 5

A farmer is bitten by a raccoon.He takes the usual precautions and washes the wound with soap and water,and then puts a bandage on it.A couple of days later,he begins to feel tired,has an upset stomach,and the wound is painful.About 2 days after noticing the symptoms,the farmer begins to feel agitated.He has a seizure and hallucinations.What condition matches the farmer's symptoms and history?

Accepted Answer

Infection with rabies occurs following bites from infected animals,such as skunks,raccoons,bats,and foxes,as well as domesticated animals,such as dogs.Initial symptoms include fatigue,gastrointestinal symptoms,and pain at the bite wound.Rabies can present as acute encephalitis indistinguishable from other viral encephalitides or with the classic syndrome of agitation,emotional liability,seizures,and hallucinations (furious rabies).

Question 6

What virus,spread by the mosquito,causes a self-limiting illness that is associated with a rash,aseptic meningitis,myelitis,and fatal encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that commonly causes a self-limited febrile illness,often associated with a rash.In 1999,the virus was introduced in the United States and has spread rapidly since.Neurologic involvement includes aseptic meningitis,myelitis,and fatal encephalitis.

Quiz 35: Infections of the Central Nervous System

A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample collected from a child yields the following results: turbid and cloudy,very high total protein levels,and very low glucose levels.What would the probable diagnosis be?

What are the most common bacteria isolated from nontraumatic brain abscesses?

Where do most cerebral abscesses spread from?

Diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infections is based on:

What virus,spread by the mosquito,causes a self-limiting illness that is associated with a rash,aseptic meningitis,myelitis,and fatal encephalitis?