health of the nervous system

Meningism - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Meningism is a set of symptoms caused by an irritation of the meninges, in the absence of inflammatory signs (ie a real meningitis). It presents with nuchal rigidity, headache, photophobia, torpid sensory and amnesia.

Therefore, the symptomatology simulates that of meningitis; to distinguish the two conditions one must resort to the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid, which occurs normally in meningism.

Meningism can manifest itself during some conditions of infectious origin that cause high fever (such as pneumonia and typhoid), intestinal parasitic infestations (teniasis and leptospirosis) or poisonings of the organism. Furthermore, it may appear during acetonemic crisis, uremia and toxic shock.

Meningism can also be induced by drugs (eg cytosine arabinoside used for the chemotherapy treatment of leukemias).

Possible Causes * of Meningism

  • acetonaemia
  • Brain aneurysm
  • cryptococcosis
  • Kidney failure
  • Leptospirosis
  • Pneumonia
  • Anger
  • Sixth disease
  • Septic shock
  • Typhus