Difference between Meningitis and Encephalitis
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S.N. |
Character |
Meningitis |
Encephalitis |
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| 1. | Definition | Inflammation of the thin membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord called the meninges (mostly of the pia mater and arachnoid mater). | Inflammation of the brain parenchyma. | |
| 2. | Causative Agent | Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi | Mostly Viruses | |
| 3. | Microorganisms involved |
The most common are echovirus, poliovirus, and coxsackie.
Bacterial meningitis develops under the action of Streptococcus, Neisseria, Haemophilus, Listeria, and other bacteria. |
Viruses (herpes virus, rabies virus, arboreal viruses, cytomegalovirus, etc.);
Bacteria – often occurring as meningoencephalitis caused by meningococci, pneumococci, Hemophilus, tuberculous bacteria, etc.) Fungi or parasites such as leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, trichinellosis, etc. |
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| 4. | Other Causes |
o Response to a brain tumor;
o Reaction after a chemotherapy; o Poisoning with lead; o Reaction after complex studies with a contrast medium; o Parasites, fungal infections. |
o Complicated brain tumors;
o Sarcoidosis; o Leukemia; o Multiple sclerosis; o Lead poisoning; o Reaction after application of various substances in the liquor; o Cerebrovascular accidents, etc. |
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| 5. | Incubation period | The symptoms of meningitis develop within a few hours to a couple of days. | The most common incubation period is 3-5 days. | |
| 6. | Symptoms | Headache is most common, along with vomiting or nausea, skin rash or discoloration of skin, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, double vision. | Headache, joint pain, irritability, fever, lethargy, seizures, behavioral changes. | |
| 7. | Complications |
o Temporary or permanent loss of hearing or vision;
o Irreversible brain damage, affecting the cognitive abilities, movement abilities o Hydrocephalus; o Encephalitis. |
o Memory problems
o Personality and behavioral changes o Speech problems o Epilepsy o Physical and motor difficulties o Low mood o Fatigue |
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| 8. | Rash | Skin discoloration or rash may be present | Absent | |
| 9. | Altered Mental Status | No focal deficits or AMS | Altered Mental Status | |
| 10. | Forms | Meningitis can be only of one form. |
Primary and secondary encephalitis.
o Primary: the brain and spinal cord are directly affected. o Secondary: the infection enters the brain after affecting another organ. |
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| 11. | Types |
o Tuberculous meningitis,
o Aseptic meningitis o Syphilitic aseptic meningitis o Cryptococcal meningitis o Staphylococcal meningitis o Gram negative meningitis o Pneumococcal meningitis o H.influenza meningitis Meningococcal meningitis. |
o Polyoencephalitis – localized in the gray matter of the brain/spinal cord;
o Leucoencephalitis – localized in the cerebral white brain matter; o Panencephalomyelitis – localized in the gray and white matter of the brain/spinal cord; o Perivenous encephalomyelitis. |
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| 12. |
Modes of Transmission
(Transmission possibility depends on the type of causative agent involved) |
Bacteria are present in discharges from the nose and mouth and cause transmission through droplets. |
o Breathing in respiratory droplets from an infected person
o Skin contact o Mosquito, tick, and other insect bites o Tick of Horses o Migratory Birds o Contaminated food or drink |
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| 13. | Risk group age | Those older than 60 and younger than 5 are at highest risk. | Occurs most frequently in infants younger than 1 year of age and in elderly patients older than the age of 65 with intermediate incidence in individuals between these age extremes. | |
| 14. | Diagnosis |
Physical examination,
Followed by CBC with di?erential, C-reactive protein, and blood for Gram stain and culture. |
Clinical presentation and supported by spinal ?uid analysis and neuroimaging abnormalities, CSF, PCR. | |
| 15. | CSF findings | The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is abnormal. | The CSF findings are variable. | |
| 16. | Treatment | Ampicillin is usually prescribed along with an aminoglycoside or a cephalosporin (cefotaxime) medication. | Acyclovir, and is usually administered intravenously in the hospital for at least ten days. | |
| 17. | Vaccines |
Vaccines of varying effectiveness exist against the following bacterial causes of meningitis:
o Streptococcus pneumoniae; o Neisseria meningitides; o Mycobacterium tuberculosis. |
Vaccines exist against some types of encephalitis:
o Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine; o Japanese encephalitis vaccine. |
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Exam Important
- Bacterial meningitis develops under the action of Streptococcus, Neisseria, Haemophilus, Listeria, and other bacteria.
- Bacteria are present in discharges from the nose and mouth and cause transmission through droplets.
- Mosquito, tick, and other insect bites, Tick of Horses, Migratory Birds, Contaminated food or drink causes Encephalitis
- A mpicillin is usually prescribed along with an aminoglycoside or a cephalosporin (cefotaxime) medication. in meningitis
- Acyclovir, and is usually administered intravenously in the hospital for at least ten days in Encephalitis.
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