cerebrospinal meningitis

meningitis /men·in·gi·tis/ (men″in-ji´tis) pl. meningi´tides   [Gr.] inflammation of the meninges.meningit´ic

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basilar meningitis  that affecting the meninges at the base of the brain.

cerebral meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the brain.

cerebrospinal meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord.

chronic meningitis  a variable syndrome of prolonged fever, headache, lethargy, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, and vomiting, with pleocytosis; due to a variety of infectious and noninfectious causes.

cryptococcal meningitis  cryptococcosis in which the meninges are invaded by Cryptococcus .

eosinophilic meningitis  meningitis characterized by an increase in lymphocytes and a high percentage of eosinophils in the cerebrospinal fluid, usually due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis  meningococcal m.

meningococcal meningitis  an acute infectious, usually epidemic, disease attended by a seropurulent meningitis, due to Neisseria meningitidis, usually with an erythematous, herpetic, or hemorrhagic skin eruption.

occlusive meningitis  leptomeningitis of children, with closure of the lateral and median apertures of the fourth ventricle.

meningitis ossi´ficans  ossification of the cerebral meninges.

otitic meningitis  that secondary to otitis media.

spinal meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord.

tubercular meningitis , tuberculous meningitis severe meningitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

viral meningitis  that due to a virus, e.g., coxsackieviruses, mumps virus, or the virus of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, marked by malaise, fever, headache and other aches, nausea, and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis (mainly lymphocytic); it usually runs a short uncomplicated course.

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cerebrospinal meningitis

n.

See meningococcal meningitis.

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meningitis

inflammation of the meninges. When the inflammatory process affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis; when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis or meningitis proper. It is also classified as fibrinous, hemorrhagic, purulent or eosinophilic, depending on the principal reaction of the tissues.

The term meningitis does not refer to a specific disease entity but rather to the pathological condition of inflammation of the tissues of the meninges. The etiological agent can be anything that activates the inflammatory process, including both pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi; chemical toxins such as lead and arsenic; contrast media used in myelography; and metastatic malignant cells.

In animals there are no specific meningitides, most cases of meningitis occurring as secondary complications to other diseases and having a bacterial etiology. Clinical signs seen commonly include fever, cutaneous hyperesthesia and rigidity of the muscles of the neck and forelimbs. A cerebrospinal fluid tap should assist in the diagnosis.

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Beagle meningitis

see beagle pain syndrome.

Bernese Mountain Dog meningitis

an acute, aseptic nonsuppurative meningitis seen in young Bernese Mountain Dogs of unknown etiology.

cerebrospinal meningitis

an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord; it may be caused by many different organisms.

Pug meningitis

see Pug meningoencephalitis.

spinal meningitis

inflammation of the meninges of the spinal cord.