A one-year-old child is brought to the hospital with high fever and limited range of motion of the head. The child frequently rubs her head. A recent history is not immediately available due to a language barrier on the part of the parent. The attending
physician suspects meningitis and orders a sample of CFS be collected. Describe the various diagnoses possible based on the results with the CSF.
What will be an ideal response?
A cloudy or milky appearance of the CSF is consistent with bacterial meningitis. A Gram stain of the bacteria present can facilitate identification of the causative agent.
Gram-negative diplococcus: Neisseria meningitidis
Gram-positive diplococcus: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Gram-positive streptococcus: Streptococcus agalactiae
Gram-positive coccobacilli: Listeria monocytogenes
Gram-negative pleomorphic bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae
CSF that is clear and colorless indicates the cause is not bacterial. Microscopic examination of the fluid may reveal round encapsulated yeast cells (Cryptococcus neoformans), long motile cells tapering at each end (Trypanosoma brucei) or motile amoeba (Acanthamoeba or Naegleria).
If no cells are evident in the clear CSF, a viral pathogen is indicated.
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application
Section: Protozoan Diseases of the Nervous System
Learning Outcome: 20.4, 20.12, 20.18, 20.19, 20.21
You might also like to view...
The emission of heat from any object is called
a. radiation. b. conduction. c. convection. d. denaturing. e. evaporation.
The most common strain of HIV evolved from
_____ virus(es).
a. a monkey b. a chimpanzee c. a human d. a gorilla e. more than one of these animal’s
The level of the oceans is rising due to ____
a. ozone depletion b. global warming c. lost species biodiversity d. increased precipitation e. acid rain
Which of the following conditions would encourage the development of sclerotia?
A. Nutrient-rich and warm and humid B. Warm, humid C. Nutrient-poor D. Nutrient-rich