A 32 year old man presents to the emergency room with a severe headache. Nuchal rigidity is found on physical examination. Lumbar puncture demonstrates cerebrospinal fluid with markedly increased lymphocytes. Other cell populations are not increased. Which of the following agents is the most likely cause of his symptoms?
Correct Answer: Herpes virus
Description: The clinically suspected diagnosis is meningitis, which is confirmed by the abnormal cerebrospinal fluid. The markedly increased lymphocytes suggests acute lymphocytic meningitis, which is distinguished from acute pyogenic meningitis (increased neutrophils as well as lymphocytes). Acute lymphocytic meningitis is usually viral in origin. Among the many viruses that have been implicated, mumps, herpes, Epstein-Barr, echovirus, and Coxsackievirus are the most common. Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae cause acute pyogenic meningitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Treponema pallidum cause chronic meningitis. Ref: Levinson W. (2012). Chapter 37. DNA Enveloped Viruses. In W. Levinson (Ed),Review of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, 12e.
Category:
Microbiology
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now