Meningism

Meningism is a set of symptoms similar to those of meningitis but not caused by meningitis.[1][3][4] Whereas meningitis is inflammation of the meninges (membranes that cover the central nervous system), meningism is caused by nonmeningitic irritation of the meninges, usually associated with acute febrile illness,[1][2] especially in children and adolescents.[2] Meningism involves the triad (3-symptom syndrome) of nuchal rigidity (neck stiffness), photophobia (intolerance of bright light) and headache. It therefore requires differentiating from other CNS problems with similar symptoms, including meningitis and some types of intracranial hemorrhage. Related clinical signs include Kernig's sign and three signs all named Brudzinski's sign.

Meningism
Other namesMeningismus,[1][2] pseudomeningitis[1][3]
Positive Kernig's sign in cerebrospinal meningitis
Differential diagnosisMeningitis

Although nosologic coding systems, such as ICD-10 and MeSH, define meningism/meningismus as meningitis-like but in fact not meningitis, many physicians use the term meningism in a loose sense clinically to refer to any meningitis-like set of symptoms before the cause is definitively known. In this sense, the word implies "suspected meningitis". The words meningeal symptoms can be used instead to avoid ambiguity, thus reserving the term meningism for its strict sense.

Signs and symptoms

The main clinical signs that indicate meningism are nuchal rigidity, Kernig's sign and Brudzinski's signs. None of the signs are particularly sensitive; in adults with meningitis, nuchal rigidity was present in 30% and Kernig's or Brudzinski's sign only in 5%.[5]

Nuchal rigidity

Nuchal rigidity is the inability to flex the neck forward due to rigidity of the neck muscles; if flexion of the neck is painful but full range of motion is present, nuchal rigidity is absent.

Kernig's sign

Kernig's sign (after Waldemar Kernig (1840–1917), a Russian neurologist) is positive when the thigh is flexed at the hip and knee at 90 degree angles, and subsequent extension in the knee is painful (leading to resistance).[6] This may indicate subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis.[7] Patients may also show opisthotonus—spasm of the whole body that leads to legs and head being bent back and body bowed forward.

Brudzinski's signs
Main article: Brudziński sign

Jozef Brudzinski (1874–1917), a Polish pediatrician, is credited with several signs in meningitis. The most commonly used sign (Brudzinski's neck sign) is positive when the forced flexion of the neck elicits a reflex flexion of the hips, with the patient lying supine.[5][8]

Other signs attributed to Brudzinski:[9]

  • The symphyseal sign, in which pressure on the pubic symphysis leads to abduction of the leg and reflexive hip and knee flexion.[10]
  • The cheek sign, in which pressure on the cheek below the zygoma leads to rising and flexion in the forearm.[10]
  • Brudzinski's reflex, in which passive flexion of one knee into the abdomen leads to involuntary flexion in the opposite leg, and stretching of a limb that was flexed leads to contralateral extension.[11]

See also

References
  1. Elsevier, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, Elsevier.
  2. Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster.
  3. Wolters Kluwer, Stedman's Medical Dictionary, Wolters Kluwer.
  4. National Library of Medicine, Meningism [MeSH Descriptor Data 2018], retrieved 2018-06-21.
  5. Thomas KE, Hasbun R, Jekel J, Quagliarello VJ (2002). "The diagnostic accuracy of Kernig's sign, Brudzinski's sign, and nuchal rigidity in adults with suspected meningitis". Clin. Infect. Dis. 35 (1): 46–52. doi:10.1086/340979. PMID 12060874.
  6. Kernig VM (1882). "Ein Krankheitssymptom der acuten Meningitis". St Petersb Med Wochensch. 7: 398.
  7. O'Connor, Simon; Talley, Nicholas Joseph (2001). Clinical Examination: A Systematic Guide to Physical Diagnosis. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. p. 363. ISBN 0-632-05971-0.
  8. Brudzinski J (1909). "Un signe nouveau sur les membres inférieurs dans les méningites chez les enfants (signe de la nuque)". Arch Med Enf. 12: 745–52.
  9. doctor/2299 at Who Named It?
  10. Brudzinski J (1916). "Über neue Symptome von Gehirnhautentzündung und -reizung bei Kindern, insbesondere bei tuberkulösen". Berl Klin Wochensch. 53: 686–90.
  11. Brudzinski J (1908). "Über die kontralateralen Reflexe an den unteren Extremitäten bei Kindern". Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 8: 255–61.
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