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Tuberculous meningitis is an infection of the the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
See also:
- Meningitis
- Meningitis - cryptococcal
- Meningitis - gram-negative
- Meningitis -nullH. influenzae
- Meningitis - meningococcal
- Meningitis - pneumococcal
- Meningitis - staphylococcal
Tubercular meningitis; TB meningitis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsTuberculous meningitis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. The bacteria spreads to the brain from another site in the body.
Risk factors include a history of:
- AIDS
- Excessive alcohol use
- Other disorders that compromise the immune system
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
Tuberculous meningitis is a very rare disorder.
SymptomsThe symptoms usually begin gradually, and may include:
- Fever
- Listlessness
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
For any patient with meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture ("spinal tap"), in which doctors take a sample of spinal fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) and send it for lab tests.
When the health care provider suspects tuberculosis, there may be a need to get many CSF samples over time to increase the chance of a diagnosis. This may require many lumbar punctures.
The following tests help diagnose tuberculous meningitis:
- Biopsy of the brain or meninges
- CSF culture
- CSF stain
- CSF test of protein, glucose (sugar) level, and lymphocytes
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Skin test for tuberculosis (PPD)
Treatment involves several antitubercular drugs at the same time, as it does for pulmonary tuberculosis. Treatment usually lasts for at least 12 months. Systemic steroids may also be used.
Expectations (prognosis)Tuberculous meningitis is life-threatening if untreated. Long-term follow-up is needed to detect repeated infections (recurrences).
ComplicationsBrain damage resulting from the infection may cause:
- Abnormal behavior
- Mental impairment
- Motor paralysis
- Seizures
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you suspect you or your child may have any form of meningitis. This condition can rapidly cause disability or death.
Call your health care provider if symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop.
PreventionIn areas where tuberculosis is more common, the BCG vaccine may help prevent severe forms of tuberculosis, such as meningitis, in very young children.
Treating people who have evidence of a non-active (dormant) tuberculosis infection can prevent the spread of tuberculosis. A dormant infection can be detected by a positive PPD.
ReferencesSwartz MN. Meningitis: bacterial, viral, and other. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 437.
What else can I help you with?
How contagious is tuberculous meningitis?
It is very contagious and is usually spread through intimate contact, kissing, drinking from the same bottle or glass. sharing towels keeping tooth brushes in close contact etc.
What causes TB meningitis?
Tuberculous meningitis (TB meningitis) is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which typically infects the lungs but can spread to the central nervous system. The infection usually occurs when the bacteria spread through the bloodstream from a primary site of infection, such as the lungs, to the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Risk factors include weakened immune systems, such as in individuals with HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, or chronic diseases. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe neurological complications and improve outcomes.
What is the medical term for tuberculous osteomyelitis?
osteomyelitis
How do you use infectious in a sentence?
Tuberculous is an infectious disease.
Do tuberculosis cause encephalitis?
Tuberculosis (TB) can lead to encephalitis, though it is more commonly associated with other central nervous system complications like meningitis or brain abscesses. When TB affects the brain, it often presents as tuberculous meningitis, which can cause inflammation and complications that may resemble encephalitis. Direct TB infection of brain tissue, known as tuberculoma, can also occur. Overall, while TB is not a primary cause of encephalitis, it can contribute to neurological complications in certain cases.
Who is most at risk for meningitis?
it usually feeds on children and old people
Is there math in meningitis?
There is no math in meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation, and is not mathematical in any way. Math involves numbers, and meningitis involves inflammation.
Is viral meningitis more severe than bacterial meningitis?
No, bacterial meningitis is generally more severe than viral meningitis.
How do you detect meningitis?
The only way to know for sure if you have Meningitis or not is by having a procedure called a Spinal Tap. This is where they insert a needle into the spinal canal to get a sample of spinal fluid. They test the sample to determine whether or not the Meningitis is bacterial or viral.
Common name for meningitis?
Spinal meningitis is a common name for meningitis.
How do you get meningitis from leukemia?
How do u get meningitis from leukemia
What causes cerebrospinal meningitis?
It is very rare to get the infection of the meninges, that is meningitis. Here the capillaries have no gap between them. That is called as blood brain barrier. But at times this barrier is broken and the bacteria do enter the meninges. There they multiply to give you bacterial meningitis. The most common bacteria are Menoingococcus, Pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae type B and Tuberculous bacteria.
