Eosinophilic meningitis

Am J Med. 2003 Feb 15;114(3):217-23. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(02)01495-x.

Abstract

Eosinophilic meningitis is a rare clinical entity that can be useful in narrowing the differential diagnosis of central nervous system disease. It is defined by the presence of 10 or more eosinophils/microL in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or a CSF eosinophilia of at least 10%. The most common cause is invasion of the central nervous system by helminthic parasites, particularly Angiostrongylus cantonensis, but other infections as well as noninfectious conditions may also be associated. This review describes the etiologies of eosinophilic meningitis, focusing primarily on the helminths that cause CSF eosinophilia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiostrongylus cantonensis / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Ascaridida / isolation & purification
  • Ascaridida Infections / diagnosis
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Coccidioides / isolation & purification
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis / microbiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis*
  • Eosinophilia / etiology*
  • Fungi / isolation & purification
  • Gnathostoma / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Meningitis / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis / etiology*
  • Spirurida Infections / diagnosis
  • Spirurida Infections / parasitology
  • Strongylida Infections / diagnosis
  • Strongylida Infections / parasitology
  • Viruses / isolation & purification