Meningoencephalitis
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Meningoencephalitis is a very serious neurological condition resembling both meningitis and encephalitis - inflammation of the the meninges (covering of the CNS) and inflammation of the brain tissues respectively.
Causes[edit | edit source]
Meningoencephalitis is caused by various bacterial, viral and protozoan infection. Some of the are;
- Bacteria
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Rickettsia prowazekii
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Tuberculosis
- Borrelia (Lyme disease)
- Leptospirosis
2. Viruses
- Tick-borne meningoencephalitis
- West Nile virus
- Measles
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Varicella-zoster virus
- Enterovirus
- Herpes simplex virus type 1
- Herpes simplex virus type 2
- Mumps virus
- HIV
3. Protozoas
- Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, e.g., Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris, Sappinia diploidea
- Trypanosoma brucei
- Toxoplasma gondii (sporozoa)
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
As the disease is a combination of two very serious neurological conditions, it is linked with severe morbidity and high mortality rate.
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
Symptoms resemble both of meningitis and encephalitis.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Meningoencephalitis can be dignosed through any of the following like meningitis and encephalitis;
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
- Urine analysis
- Blood test