Bacterial meningitis. Specific etiologic diagnosis on the basis of distinctive epidemiologic, pathogenetic, and clinical features.
The purpose of this paper is to point out a clinical approach to the etiologic diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in cases in which it is not possible to define the cause by microscopic studies of spinal fluid in the very early stage of the disease. The striking differences in epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical behavior, complications, and prognosis permit identification of the etiology in many instances.
D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology