title: Management of acute, recurrent, and chronic meningitides in adults.
abstract: Meningitis (inflammation of the pia, arachnoid, and sometimes dura) has diverse causes and presentations. Although viruses are the most common cause of acute meningitis, bacterial meningitides are more severe and important to exclude because morbidity and mortality are high. Chronic meningitis has a broader range of causes, including atypical bacteria, fungi, and noninfectious causes. Presentation is more insidious but, if untreated, significant damage or death may ensue. Recurrent meningitis has many of the same causes as chronic meningitis, but manifestations occur in discrete episodes. Distinguishing between acute, chronic, and recurrent meningitis is essential for proper diagnostic testing and treatment approaches.
authors.affiliation: Neurology-Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, WACC 835, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. tcho@partners.org
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Nagagopal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Venna
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000628:therapy*