What is the treatment for TB meningitis?

Standard Therapies Meningitis is usually treated with antibiotic drugs used against the bacteria causing the infection. These may include isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and ethambutol. Treatment should last for at least 9 months to one year.

Is TB meningitis curable?

If diagnosed and treated early 95% of patients should recover completely, but if the disease progresses, death and disability are common despite microbiological cure. TB meningitis occurs most frequently in the developing world, where the diagnosis is often delayed due to confusion with other forms of meningitis.

Is meningitis related to tuberculosis?

Tuberculous meningitis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). The bacteria spread to the brain and spine from another place in the body, usually the lung. Tuberculous meningitis is very rare in the United States.

Is TB meningitis bacterial or viral?

TB meningitis (Tuberculous meningitis) is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Infection begins elsewhere in the body, usually the lungs, but in about 1 – 2% of cases the bacterium causes TB meningitis.

How is TB meningitis diagnosed?

Definitive diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis can be made by demonstration of mycobacteria in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), by direct staining or culture. However, these tests are time consuming and seldom positive.

Can TB meningitis come back?

Brain damage from this condition is permanent and will impact health over the long term. You can develop this infection more than once. Your doctor will need to monitor you after you’re treated for TB meningitis so they can detect a new infection as early as possible.

How do you get tuberculosis meningitis?

How TB meningitis is caused. Tuberculosis bacteria enter the body by droplet inhalation i.e. breathing in bacteria from the coughing/sneezing of an infected person.

How do you test for TB meningitis?

Diagnosis of TB meningitis is made by analysing cerebrospinal fluid collected by lumbar puncture. When collecting CSF for suspected TB meningitis, a minimum of 1ml of fluid should be taken (preferably 5 to 10ml). The CSF usually has a high protein, low glucose and a raised number of lymphocytes.