Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in infectious diseases of the nervous system: when to ask, what to ask, what to expect

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis very frequently makes the difference to the diagnosis, not only in relation to infections but also in other diseases of the nervous system such as inflammatory, demyelinating, neoplastic and degenerative diseases. The authors review some practical and important features of CSF analysis in infectious diseases of the nervous system, with regard to acute bacterial meningitis, herpetic meningoencephalitis, neurotuberculosis, neurocryptococcosis, neurocysticercosis and neurosyphilis.

Keywords

• cerebrospinal fluid
• central nervous system
• bacterial meningitis
• herpes simplex virus
• meningoencephalitis
• meningeal tuberculosis
• cryptococcal meningitis
• neurocysticercosis
• neurosyphilis
• liquido celalorraquidiano
• sistema nervoso
• meningites bacterianas
• encefalites por herpes virus
• tuberculose meningea
• meningite criptocococica
• neurocisticercose
• neurossifilis