Meningitis Children
Settings
Meningitis, encephalitis in clinical paediatric practice
- 1.
- A.
An absence of bacteria on gram film excludes bacterial meningitis
- B.
A normal white cell count and a normal glucose exclude meningitis
- C.
A predominance of neutrophils indicates bacterial infection
- D.
Febrile children without meningitis can have up to 48% neutrophils and a low glucose in their CSF
- E.
You should correct the white cell count according to how many red cells you see, otherwise a blood stained tap will have an artificially high count
- 2.
- A.
Erratic breathing pattern
- B.
Petechial rash (but with normal platelets and coagulation)
- C.
Hypertension
- D.
Double vision
- E.
Impaired conscious level
- 3.Regarding investigations in meningitis: (Tick the one correct answer):
- A.
CT scanning is a good way of excluding raised intracranial pressure
- B.
Antibiotics prior to LP make it difficult to diagnose bacterial meningitis
- C.
Blood cultures are not very useful in meningitis
- D.
Latex antigen tests are helpful when culture/microscopy are negative
- E.
Coning can happen in meningitis without lumbar puncture
- 4.
- A.
He should have an LP to exclude meningitis
- B.
Seizures can cause CSF abnormalities even if there is no CNS infection
- C.
Partial, multiple or prolonged (over 30 mins) seizures make the diagnosis of febrile convulsion less likely
- D.
Classic meningism may not be detected in infants with meningitis
- 5.In a child with meningitis, the following are reliable indicators of a bacterial rather than a viral cause: (tick all that apply)
- A.
CSF Protein = 1
- B.
CSF Glucose = 2.5
- C.
Blood WBC = 25
- D.
CRP = 50
- 6.A child presents with fever, progressive deterioration in conscious level, and partial seizures. Regarding investigations for encephalitis, the following are true:
- A.
EEG is abnormal in more than 80%
- B.
EEG abnormalities are seen particularly in the temporal lobes
- C.
MRI is the best imaging technique
- D.
Normal CSF and negative PCR excludes HSV encephalitis
- 7.In HSV encephalitis the following are true:
- A.
A history of previous cold sores makes HSV unlikely
- B.
With aciclovir, mortality is less than 10%
- C.
Aphasia and focal neurological signs are common
- D.
Long term complications are common in survivors
- 8.
- A.
Varicella zoster virus; encephalitis can occur without chickenpox rash
- B.
Enterovirus; cause winter epidemics
- C.
Mumps and measles; if unimmunized
- D.
West Nile Virus is an important cause of encephalitis in Florida
- E.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is distinguised by spinal cord signs and multiple focal white matter abnormalities
Back to top