Management of acute meningitis

Clin Med (Lond). 2018 Mar;18(2):164-169. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-164.

Abstract

Acute meningitis remains a devastating disease. Clinicians need a low threshold for suspecting meningitis, to undertake appropriate investigations and provide treatment in a timely manner, to minimise the risk of poor outcome in bacterial disease, while limiting unnecessary treatment in viral meningitis.

Keywords: bacterial; clinical; diagnostics; management; meningitis; viral.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections* / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections* / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections* / microbiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Meningitis, Viral* / drug therapy
  • Meningitis, Viral* / virology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antiviral Agents