meningococcal 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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meningococcal meningitis

n.

An acute infectious disease affecting children and young adults characterized by inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord, headache, vomiting, convulsions, stiff neck, light sensitivity, and purpuric eruptions, and caused by the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis. Also called cerebrospinal meningitis.

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meningococcal meningitis

[mining′gōkok′əl]

bacterial meningitis caused by infection with Neisseria meningitidis, an acute infectious disease with seropurulent meningeal inflammation. It usually appears in epidemics, and symptoms are those of acute cerebral and spinal meningitis, usually with an eruption of cutaneous erythematous, herpetic, or hemorrhagic spots. The fulminating or malignant form accompanied with hemorrhagic apoplexy of adrenal glands is known as Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome. Also called cerebrospinal fever, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis.

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meningococcal meningitis

Neurology Meningeal infection by N meningococcus, primarily of children, typically of rapid onset after a URI Epidemiology Often in winter or spring, possibly with local epidemics at boarding schools or military bases Risk factors Exposure to another person with MM, recent URI. See Meningitis.