On the basis of the observed 10 cases the authors discuss the diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic problems of herpes encephalomeningitis. The diagnosis in early phase of the disease but already after appearance of psychic and neurological symptoms and signs is based on clinical criteria and also on the result of examination of the cerebrospinal fluid and rapid serological method ELISA. In view of the already available possibilities of virostatic treatment early diagnosis is of utmost importance, for beginning treatment (preferably with Vidarabine) before the development of extensive necrotic brain lesions.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Etiology and clinical course of purulent meningitis and encephalitis in adults].

The authors, basing on the own experience in the treatment of 578 patients with purulent meningitis and encephalitis, discuss etiologic and clinical problems as an early diagnosis of the cause decides on the proper therapy and often on the patient's fate. The authors are convinced that the result of general CSF examination is a crucial diagnostic criterion in meningitis and encephalitis but does not permit identification of the disease causes. Problems with etiological verification is discussed. The authors have found that the infection with N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae remains the most frequent cause of the disease in adults. However, the cause of the disease cannot be determined in over 50% of patients, and etiological verification of infections caused by H. influenzae and anaerobic organisms is quite unsatisfactory. The authors stress that over 20% of patients had skull injury and meningitis most frequently resulted from the infection with S. pneumoniae in these patients. It is suggested that purulent meningitis and encephalitis as a rule is endogenous disease produced by the activation of endogenous source of the infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Methods and treatment results of purulent meningitis and encephalitis in adults--based on personal observations].

The authors present own methods and results of the treatment of 578 patients with suppurative meningitis and encephalitis. Etiologically most frequent infections due to N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae were treated with penicillin and ampicillin; the authors recommend to replace the latter antibiotic with cefotaxime. If meningitis and encephalitis were due to aerobic gram-negative bacilli, a possibility of the simultaneous infection with anaerobic flora was considered, and the drugs active against both types of the organisms were administered. The same was the treatment in case of etiologically confirmed staphylococcal infection. In case of unknown etiology of meningitis and encephalitis therapy was based on clinical data, and laboratory findings.

Adult↗