Tuberculous meningitis

Medium urgency
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Inflammation of the meninges that surround the brain to protect it, caused by infection by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It typically manifests with a headache and stiffness of the neck muscles, but it is accompanied by stupor and coma in many cases. Diagnosis is clinical and made through an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment with tuberculostatics must be started early to avoid coma states and neurological deficits. It is considered a medical emergency, so it is therefore necessary to urgently attend an accident and emergency department.

Bibliographic references
  1. John M Leonard. Central nervous system tuberculosis. UpToDate, Sep 12, 2016.
  2. Thwaites GE, Chau TT, Farrar JJ. Improving the bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42:378.
  3. Vadwai V, Boehme C, Nabeta P, et al. Xpert MTB/RIF: a new pillar in diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis? J Clin Microbiol 2011; 49:2540.
  4. Thwaites GE, van Toorn R, Schoeman J. Tuberculous meningitis: more questions, still too few answers. Lancet Neurol 2013; 12:999.
  5. Karen L. Roos, Kenneth L. Tyler. Meningitis, encefalitis, absceso cerebral y empiema. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19ª Edición. 883:899
  6. Walter J. Koroshetz, Avindra Nath. Meningitis crónica y recurrente. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19ª Edición. 906:911.
  7. Elena Sánchez Maganto, Agustín Julián Jiménez. Infecciones del sistema nervioso central. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010. Capítulo 697:716.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Personality changes


    Neurological symptoms: impaired speech, physical strength or feeling


    Diminished state of consciousness


    Muscle stiffness due to a contraction


    Fever / Feel very hot

Pre-hospital care recommendations

Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Use antiemetics if vomiting occurs.
Keep calm.