Meningoencephalitis is inflammation in the brain tissue or the membrane covering the spinal cord and brain. It is often caused by viral or bacterial infections, such as measles, West Nile fever, Lyme disease, and Pontiac fever. Symptoms include fever, stiff neck muscles, headache, and vomiting. Treatment depends on the infectious agent causing the condition and may include antiviral drugs or antibiotics. Severe cases often require hospitalization.
When an infectious agent such as a virus, fungus or bacterium enters the body, the immune system usually sends out white blood cells to fight the infection. The result is often inflammation in the affected area, characterized by pain, swelling, and redness. An inflammation that occurs in the brain tissue is generally called encephalitis, and when it affects the membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain, it is referred to as meningitis. When both meningitis and encephalitis are present, the condition is often referred to as meningoencephalitis or sometimes encephalomeningitis.
Meningoencephalitis is often associated with several other conditions. These include viral infections such as measles, West Nile fever and rabies. Measles is commonly seen in children and is usually characterized by rashes all over the body. Rabies is often transmitted through bites from infected wild and domestic animals. West Nile fever is contracted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Examples of bacterial infections that can also lead to meningoencephalitis are Lyme disease and Pontiac fever. Lyme disease is usually transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. The bacteria that cause Pontiac fever often thrive in water sources such as swimming pools and showers and can infect individuals exposed to these water sources.
Infection with the Naegleria fowleri parasite commonly leads to a condition known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This is a rare but often devastating disease that results in death several days after exposure to the parasite. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are often required in the management of patients with PAM.
Symptoms of meningoencephalitis include fever, stiff neck muscles, headache, and vomiting. Many patients also experienced seizures, behavior changes, altered consciousness and memory loss during the infection. Some may have partial paralysis of both the arms and legs. In newborns, there may be a bulge at the fontanelle, a soft area that can be felt on the baby’s head.
Doctors usually diagnose their patients based on medical history, symptoms, and the results of neurological and physical exams. Diagnostic tests may also be done, such as blood tests, urine tests, and tests of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid contained within the spinal cord and brain. A computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be done to detect inflammation in the brain.
Treatment often depends on the infectious agent causing the meningoencephalitis. Antiviral drugs or antibiotics are usually given for viral or bacterial infections, respectively. Other medications are also often given to relieve pain and swelling in the brain. Severe cases of meningoencephalitis often need to be confined to the hospital for intravenous drug administration and patient monitoring.
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