CEREBRAL

INFECTION AND
CEREBRAL
INFLAMMATION
 BRAIN INFECTION

A brain infection is a viral, fungal,

or parasitic infection of the tissue
of the brain itself or the membranes
surrounding the brain(meninges).
Bacteria and viruses are the most
common causes of brain infections and
spinal cord
• Infections can cause inflammation
of the brain(ENCEPHALITIS).
• Infections can also cause
inflammation of the layers of
tissue(meninges)that cover the
brain and spinal cord (MENINGITIS).
• When both brain and meninges are
infected, it is called
MENINGOENCEPHALITIS.
• In some disorders, infection is confined to
one area(localized)as a pocket of pus,called
an empyema or an abscess.
-EMPYEMAS form in an existing space in the
body,such as the space between the tissues cover
the brain(meninges) or the lungs.
-ABSCESSES,which resemble boils, can form
anywhere in the body,including within the brain.
• Fungi such as aspergilla, protozoa such as
toxoplasma gondii,and parasites such as Taenia
solium(the pork taprworm)may cause cysts to
form in the brain.
• Several ways in which bacteria and
other infectious organisms can reach
the brain and meninges:
- By being carried by the blood
- By entering the brain directly
from the outside
- By spreading from nearby infected
structures
SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN INFECTIONS
- People older than 2 years of age with acute
bacterial infection develop high fever, severe
headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting,
discomfort when looking into a bright light,
sleepiness, and confusion.
- Newborns and infants can be unusually irritable
and sleepy.
- Severe cause of bacterial meningitis,
particularly meningococcal, can cause shock with
complete loss of consciousness and coma and
bring about a spreading purplish rash.
- Someone with viral infections tends to appear
somewhat less ill.
 BRAIN INFECTION CAUSES
• Causes of bacterial meningitis:
Three types of bacteria are the most
common causes of meningitis in all age
except newborns:
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- neisseria meningitidis
- haemophilus influenza type b
* Newborns are usually infected with
COLIFORM BACTERIA such as ESCHERICHIA COLI
or LISTERIA.
 TRANSMISSION:

• Exchange of respiratory and throat

secretions from coughing, sneezing to
spread the bacteria.

AT RISK:
- Most commonly affects infants and small
children.
- Anyone who had close or prolonged contact
with a person affected by Neisseria
Meningitidis.
- people with weakened immune system,
diabetic, chronic alcoholic, IV drug
abusers.
- anyone older than 60 years of age.
 COMMON BRAIN INFECTIONS

• TOXOPLASMOSIS(toxo)
- caused by the parasite TOXOPLASMA
GONDII
- Infection is acquired
example:
>from an infected mother to an
unborn baby
>eating unwashed vegetables or
undercooked meat
>direct contact with cat feces
• CEREBRAL CYSTICERCOSIS
-caused by the pork tapeworm.
-infestation is acquired when
people eat food contaminated by feces
containing tapeworm eggs.
•TRICHINOSIS
-caused by the roundworm
Trichinella spiralis.
-it is acquired by eating larvae in
raw or undercooked pork.
• LYME DISEASE
-one of the most common
infections transmitted by insects in
the U.S.
-It is caused by the bacterium
Borrelia burgdorferi,which infects
and multiplies inside of ticks of
the ixodes species.
-it is transmitted to humans by
the tick bite.
• COCCIDIOIDAL MENINGITIS
-Severe complication of
coccidiomycosis(valley fever), a
common fungal infection in the
Southwestern U.S.
-it is caused by the inhalation
of the Coccidioides soil fungal
spores, leading to predominantly
respiratory symptoms.
• CRYPTOCOCCUS
-an uncommon causative agent of
meningitis, affecting almost exclusively
immunocompromised people.
-this ubiquitous fungus thrives in
soil and in the debris around tree bases,
with particular prediletion for bird
droppings.
-MOT: inhalation of the fungal spores
in soil with subsequent spread through the
bloodstream to the CNS.
• TUBERCULOSIS
- caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
- spread through the lymphatic
system to the CNS.
-it has a short initial period
with symptoms of upper respiratory
infection, followed by the onset of
various neurologic deficits, such as:
visual impairment, focal weakness and
numbness.
• CEREBRAL ABSCESS
-It is often complication of
chronic sinus or middle-ear
infections or the distant spread of
the infection from somewhere
else(such as lung abscess or
pneumonia).
-It can also be a consequence of
head trauma or neurosurgical
procedure.
• SPINAL ABSCESS
-infection spread to the spinal
canal directly from any inflammation
near the spine.
-at risk: IV drug users, people
with diabetes, anyone with therapy
with a weakened immune system.
-it usually develops suddenly,
with fever, back pain, redness, and
swelling of the affected area.
• WEST NILE VIRUS
-usually spread by bites of
ticks, mosquitoes, and flies.
-the west nile-transmitting
vector is the mosquito. Feeding on
infected birds, and then passing the
infected blood to humans.
-SYMPTOMS: headaches, fever,
nausea, vomiting, and photophobia.
• HERPES VIRUS FAMILY ( HERPES SIMPLEX TYPE
1 AND 2, VARICELLA ZOSTER, EPSTEIN-BARR,
as well as CYTOMEGALOVIRUS)
- can enter the CNS from the
Peripheral Nervous System(along the nerves
outside of the brain and spinal cord)
- it can cause severe illness such as
fulminant meningitis, encephalitis, or
myelitis.
• POLIOMYELITIS(polio)
-caused by a small poliovirus.
-the spread in the nervous system
occurs when orally ingested virus
multiplies in the digestive system,
then gets into the bloodstream, and
enters the CNS.
-It will leads to paralysis,
coma, and arrest of the respiratory
and cardiac muscle.
• RUBELLA(german measles)
- caused by the rubella virus.
- baby may be born with a variety
of defects including deafness,
cognitive dysfunction, and heart
problems.
• RABIES
-a viral infection.
-transmitted to humans by the
bite of an infected animal
-the disease is commonly caused
by the bite of a rabies dog but also
might be transmitted by cats,
raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves,
andmany other domestic and wild
animals.
• AIDS AND HIV ENCEPHALITIS (AIDS DEMENTIA)
-caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.
-Aids dementia is characterized by the slow
onset of behavioral, intellectual, and motor
impairment.
-early symptoms include: confusion, loss of
libido, social withdrawal, decreased
concentration, poor balance, and weakness.
-in the late stage, severe dementia, inability
to control urine flow, and inability to speak and
walk may occur.
- treatment: standard antiretroviral drugs.
• ZIKA VIRUS
-transmitted to humans by the
bite of an infected mosquito.
-SYMPTOMS: low-grade fever,
headache, muscle and joint aches,
pink or reddened eyes.
- patients infected with Zika
Virus develop a rare late neurologic
complication known as a GUILLAIN-
BARRE SYNDROME.
• Mild flu-like signs and symptoms such as
fever, headache, aches in muscles and
joints, fatigue or weakness .
• It can also cause confused thinking,
seizures, or problems
• Severe signs and symptoms: confusion,
agitation or hallucinations, seizures,
loss of sensation or paralysis in
certain areas of the face or body,
muscle weakness, problems with speech or
hearing, loss of consciousness.
• In infants and young children, signs
and symptoms might include: bulging
in the soft spots (fontanels) of an
infant’s skull, nausea and vomiting,
body stiffness, poor feeding or not
waking for a feeding, irritability.
• CAUSES: The exact cause of
encephalitis is often unknown. But
when a cause is known, the most
common is a viral infection.
Bacterial infections and
noninfectious inflammatory can cause
encephalitis.
• TWO MAIN TYPES OF ENCEPHALITIS:
1. PRIMARY ENCEPHALITIS
- this condition occurs when the virus or other agent
directly infects the brain. The infection may be concentrated
in one area or widespread. A primary infection may be
reactivation of a virus that had been inactive after a
previous illness.
2. SECONDARY ENCEPHALITIS
- this condition results from a faulty immune system
reaction elsewhere in the body. Instead of attacking only the
cells causing the infection, the immune system also mistakenly
attacks healthy cells in the brain. Also known as post-
infection encephalitis, secondary encephalitis often occurs
two to three weeks after the initial infection.
• COMMON VIRAL CAUSES:
The viruses that can cause encephalitis
include:
-Herpes simplex virus
-other herpes virus(varicella-zoster virus
and Epstein-Barr virus)
-Enteroviruses(poliovirus and
coxsakievirus)
-Mosquito-borne viruses, these viruses can
cause infections such as West Nile, La Crosse,
St.Louis, western equine and eastern equine
encephalitis.
 -Rabies virus
-Childhood infections, such as
measles(rubeola),mumps and German
Measles(rubella).
• RISK FACTORS:
-age
-weakened immune system
-geographical regions
-season of the year
• COMPLICATIONS OF SEVERE ILLNESS
Inflammation can injure the brain,
possibly resulting in coma or death.
Other complications – varying greatly in
severity – may persist for months or be
permanent. These complications can include:
- persistent fatigue
-weakness or lack of muscle
coordination
-personality changes
-memory problems
-paralysis
-hearing or vision defects
-speech impairments
• PREVENTION
-Practice good hygiene
-Don’t share utensils
-Teach your children good
habits
-Get vaccinations
• PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES AND
TICKS
-dress to protect yourself
-apply mosquito repellent
-use insecticide
- avoid mosquitoes
-get rid of water sources outside
your home.
-look for outdoor signs of viral
disease
• DIAGNOSIS:
The doctor might recommend:
-Brain Imaging
-Spinal tap(lumbar tap)
-other lab tests: samples of
blood, urine, or excretions from the
back of the throat can be tested for
viruses or other infectious agents.
-Electroencephalogram(EEG)
 -Brain biopsy
●TREATMENT:
Treatment for mild encephalitis
usually consists of: bed rest, plenty
of fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs –
such as
acetaminophen(tylenol,others),
ibuprofen(advil ETC.) and naproxen
sodium(Aleve) – to relieve headaches
and fever.
• ANTIVIRAL DRUGS
-acyclovir(zovirax)
-ganciclovir(cytovene)
-foscarnet(foscavir)