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Intensive Care Management of Meningitis and Encephalitis

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Textbook of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care

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Abstract

Meningitis and encephalitis are emergent neurological conditions that are both challenging and highly diverse in their clinical manifestations and epidemiological features. Although both have similar features, encephalopathy is the hallmark that differentiates encephalitis from meningitis. Recently, there is an increasing recognition of noninfectious causes like autoimmune conditions. Despite its prompt identification and early administration of antimicrobial therapy, about 25% of patients require care in the neurointensive care unit. Various factors that are associated with admission to the intensive care unit include seizures, status epilepticus, altered mental status, and respiratory failure. Major neurological concerns that are encountered in these patients include elevated intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, seizures including status epilepticus, and strokes. Besides prompt recognition and treatment of the offending agent, aggressive care of various neurological and systemic complications is required to achieve good functional outcome. Management of these complications frequently requires incorporation of an interdisciplinary team. Despite adopting an intensive approach, a significant morbidity and mortality are observed in these patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Archana Hinduja

  2. Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Areej Tariq

  3. Department of Neurocritical Care, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Sarah Adriance

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  1. Archana Hinduja
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  2. Areej Tariq
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  3. Sarah Adriance
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Correspondence to Archana Hinduja .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Hemanshu Prabhakar

  2. Division of Neuroanesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

    Zulfiqar Ali

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Hinduja, A., Tariq, A., Adriance, S. (2019). Intensive Care Management of Meningitis and Encephalitis. In: Prabhakar, H., Ali, Z. (eds) Textbook of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3390-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3390-3_9

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