EGYPTIAN EOSINOPHILIC AND INFECTIOUS MENINGOENCEPHA- LITIS AND THEIR IMPACT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

• Published in: Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology Vol. 46; no. 1; p. 67
• Main Authors: El-Bahnasawy, Mamdouh M M, El Feky, Mohammad Reda, Morsy, Ayman T A, Ismail, Mousa A M, Morsy, Tosson A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Egypt 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections - parasitology; Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections - pathology; Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections - psychology; Egypt - epidemiology; Eosinophilia - cerebrospinal fluid; Humans; Meningoencephalitis - epidemiology; Meningoencephalitis - pathology; Meningoencephalitis - psychology; Egypt
• ISSN: 1110-0583
• DOI: 10.12816/0026151

Meningoencephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord & their covering protective membranes. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore, the condition is classified as a medical emergency. The commonest symptoms of meningitis are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light (photophobia) or loud noises (phonophobia). Children often exhibit only nonspecific symptoms, such as irritability and drowsiness. If a rash is present, it may indicate a particular cause of meningitis; for instance, meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria may be accompanied by a characteristic rash. A broad variety of allergic, infectious, neoplastic, and idiopathic diseases are associated with increased blood and/or tissue eosinophilia and range in severity from self-limited conditions to life-threatening disorders. Although accepted upper limits of normal blood eosinophil numbers vary somewhat, a value above 600 eosinophils /microL of blood is abnormal in the vast majority of cases. Generally speaking, there are several possible causes of eosinophils in the CSF; undoubtedly parasitic infection is one of the main causes.