PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS NEWEST 2026 VERIFIED
100%
CNS Infections
Inflammation of the meninges, can be bacterial or viral in origin (or "other")
Incidence: 2-6/100,000, bacterial infection is more common in children
meningitis
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the ______________ of the brain and spinal cord
and can involve brain parenchyma
Meningitis may be associated with CSF flow block which leads to
______________ (accumulation of fluid in the brain) and/or a venous
thrombosis
meninges, hydrocephalus
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Sources of the infection for meningitis include...
- ______________
- ______________ blood brain barrier
- direct spread from ______________, ears (otitis media)
- ______________ (basilar skull fx)
- complication of ______________
bloodborne, crossing, sinuses, trauma, surgery
CNS Infections: Meningitis
What are the 2 ways meningitis can be diagnosed?
lumbar puncture,
MRI/CT
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Characteristics of this type of meningitis include...
- More common than bacterial
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- Enteroviruses
- Herpes simplex type 2
- Other: epstein barr virus
viral (aseptic)
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Characteristics of this type of meningitis include...
- Hemophilus influenza
- Pneumococcus
- Meningiococcus
- Less common: tuberculosis
bacterial
CNS Infections: Meningitis
The prognosis for viral meningitis is...
The prognosis for bacterial meningitis can be...
usually good,
fatal and needs urgent diagnosis/treatment
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Which type of meningitis is considered a neurologic emergency?
bacterial
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Signs/Symptoms of meningitis include...
- Fever
- Headache
- ______________ ______________
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Possibly altered level of ______________, focal ___________ ___________
signs, ______________
stiff neck,
consciousness, cranial nerve, seizures
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Meningeal irritation signs
With the ______________ sign you perform passive flexion of the hips
With the ______________ sign you perform passive flexion of the neck
kernig, brudzinski
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CNS Infections: Meningitis
Meningeal irritation signs
With the Kernig sign you perform passive flexion of the hips, this results in the
patient having...
With the Brudzinski sign you perform passive flexion of the neck, this results
in the patient having...
posterior thigh pain with knee extension,
hip and knee flexion
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Other parts of evaluation for meningitis include...
- CBC, blood cultures
- ________ sample [spinal tap, lumbar puncture]: (opening pressure, cells,
glucose, protein, culture for bacteria/viruses)
- ________ ________ for quick screen
- MRI/CT
- ________
CSF, gram stain, EEG
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Other complications of meningitis include...
- ______________ loss
- Possibility of other focal ______________ changes including hemiparesis and
ataxia
**______________ with prompt diagnosis and treatment
hearing, neuro, rare
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Treatment for meningitis depends on etiology
What type of meningitis starts antibiotics empirically prior to culture results?
bacterial
CNS Infections: Meningitis
Treatment depends on etiology
What type of meningitis starts antiviral meds for herpes and has vaccines?
Supportive form of treatment
viral
CNS Infections: Meningitis
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Inpatient treatment for meningitis consists of...
- Bed rest
- ______________
- Seizure control
- ______________ control
- May need ______________, hydration, or ______________ balance
steroids, ICP, intubation, electrolyte
CNS Infections: Meningitis
PT interventions for meningitis include...
- Prevent secondary complications through ____________, ____________, and
____________
- Pain/____________
- Balance/coordination/____________ deficits
- Education
positioning, mobility, weakness,
stiffness,
sensory
CNS Infections: Encephalitis
Encephalitis is inflammation of the ____________ tissue (parenchyma) and
affects _____________ matter more than ____________ matter
Encephalitis can be associated with brain ____________, ______________
inflammation, and cell ______________
brain, grey, white
edema, meningeal, death
CNS Infections: Encephalitis
Sources of the infection for encephalitis include...
- ____________ illness (consists of herpes simplex, insect borne, rabies,
mumps/measles/rubella/chickenpox)
- ____________
- ____________ (in 30-40 % of cases)
viral, autoimmune, unknown
CNS Infections: Encephalitis
Signs/Symptoms of encephalitis include...
- Fever