Meningeal syndrome

Meningitis is an inflammation of the soft tissues of the brain and spinal cord, which are characterized by the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid, and are caused by various bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc. The term meningeal syndrome means that it is an irritation of the meninges (meningism) or an inflammatory process on them (meningitis) and is an indication for a cerebrospinal fluid puncture, which is the only way to distinguish meningism from meningitis. Meningism and meningitis cannot be distinguished from each other based on the clinical picture, because there is no: singular sign that occurs in meningitis, but not in meningism, and vice versa, difference in the intensity of meningeal symptoms in meningitis from that in meningism, condition that can be accompanied by meningitis that cannot be accompanied by meningism.