CHANGES IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID COMPOSITION DURING MENINGITIS AND ITS AGE-RELATED VARIATIONS
Abstract
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is the most reliable criterion for diagnosing and assessing its progression. This article provides a detailed review of changes in CSF composition during bacterial, viral, and fungal meningitis. CSF alterations — including cell count (pleocytosis), protein concentration, glucose level, pressure, and color — vary according to age. In neonates, physiological pleocytosis and elevated protein are observed; in children, glucose decreases rapidly; and in adults, pressure and protein changes are more pronounced. Epidemiological data illustrate the distribution of the disease across different age groups.This article highlights the clinical importance of interpreting CSF findings according to age and serves as a guide for medical students and practicing physicians.,Keywords
meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid, age-related changes, neonatal meningitis, bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, fungal meningitis, pleocytosis, decreased glucose, elevated protein, diagnosis.
References
- Tunkel, A.R., Hartman, B.J., Kaplan, S.L., et al. Practice Guidelines for the Management of Bacterial Meningitis. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2004;39:1267–1284.
- van de Beek, D., de Gans, J., Tunkel, A.R., Wijdicks, E.F.M. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 2006;354:44–53.
- Roos, K.L., Tyler, K.L. Meningitis, Encephalitis, Brain Abscess, and Other CNS Infections. In: Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th edition. McGraw-Hill, 2018.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Meningitis Fact Sheet. 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meningitis—Data & Statistics. 2022.
- Brouwer, M.C., Tunkel, A.R., van de Beek, D. Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Antimicrobial Treatment of Meningitis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 2010;23:467–492.
- Volpe, J.J. Neonatal Meningitis. In: Neurology of the Newborn, 6th edition. Elsevier, 2018.
- Kim, K.S. Acute bacterial meningitis in infants and children. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2010;10:32–42.
- Perfect, J.R., Dismukes, W.E., Dromer, F., et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Cryptococcal Disease: 2010 Update. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2010;50:291–322.
- Bradshaw, M.J., et al. Viral Meningitis. In: UpToDate, 2023.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.