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- Meningitis is an infection of the fluid and tissue in the spinal column. Chronic Meningitis refers to any of a number of types of slowly progressing infections of the fluid and tissue of the spinal column. Symptoms usually occur over weeks or months, as opposed to acute Meningitis, in which
symptoms progress very rapidly. To follow below is a
discussion of the most common causes. Your physician will
need to determine the actual diagnosis and treatment
course.
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- Fever
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Confusion
- Behavioral
changes
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- Tuberculosis
- Atypical tuberculi
- Cryptococcus
- Coccidiodes
- Histoplasma
- Syphilis
- Lyme disease
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Lumbar
puncture (spinal tap) may show:
- Elevated white blood cell count (neutrophils elevated early, lymphocytes elevated later), low glucose, elevated protein, and Tuberculosis and
atypical tuberculi by using acid fast stain and special
culture techniques
- India ink stain, cryptococcal
antigen, and cultures help to identify cryptococcocus as
the cause.
- Increased white blood cell count,
decreased glucose, antibodies to coccidiodes, and fungal
cultures can identify cocciodes as the cause.
- Spinal fluid shows increased white blood cell count and elevated protein levels. A positive blood test for Syphilis points to Syphilis as the cause of Meningitis.
- Elevated white blood cell count and proteins. If the antibody ratio in spinal fluid to antibody in blood is greater than 1.0 as in Lyme Disease, it is suspected as the cause of Meningitis.
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- HIV Infection
- Hodgkin's disease
- Chronic use of corticosteroids
(e.g., Prednisone)
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- Tuberculosis --
a typical regimen may include Isoniazid, Rifampin, and Pyrazinamide
- Atypical tuberculi -- determined by
infectious disease specialist
- Coccidiodes -- intravenous
Amphotericin B then oral Fluconazole
- Histoplasma -- intravenous
Amphotericin B, possible followed by oral Itraconazole
- Cryptococcocus -- Oral Fluconazole
or Amphotericin B intravenously/-Flucytosine
- Syphilis --
Penicillin intravenously
- Choramphenicol, Doxycycline, and
Ceftriaxone are alternatives for those with penicillin
allergy.
- Lyme Disease --
Ceftriaxone
intravenously
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- Seek immediate medical attention as
this condition can lead to permanent disability and death.
The explanation here is only a rough outline of diagnosis
and treatment. The diagnosis often takes expert physician
analysis, often involving the services of an Infectious
disease specialist.
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