Question 1

how can you distinguish between meningitis and lyme disease?

Accepted Answer

Testing: Lyme disease can sometimes cause an inflamation of the coverings of the brain ( meninges) and thus cause meningitis. Meningitis is a location specific process and can be caused by a number of bacteria, viruses & other agents. Lyme disease usually presents by affecting other parts of the body. Blood & spinal fluid tests can define the cause of meningitis.

Question 2

i want to know what is the difference between meningitis and lyme disease?

Accepted Answer

Apples and oranges: Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, uncommon with lyme disease.  Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency, can kill in hours.  Nervous system can be involved in lyme disease, but less commonly and not acute.

Question 3

is meningitis from lyme disease contagious?

Accepted Answer

Lyme meningitis: The short answer is no.  More information is available at: 
http://www.Merckmanuals.Com/home/print/brain_spinal_cord_and_nerve_disorders/meningitis/chronic_meningitis.Html.

Question 4

my friend just told me that she is in the hospital with lyme based meningitis, what exactly is that? also, my kids(ages 4 yrs & 16 week were around her 4 days ago, should i be worried?

Accepted Answer

Not transmissible: Lyme meningitis can be part of the secondary stage of lyme disease.  It is far less severe than the usual bacterial meningitis.  The disease does not transmit from person-to-person.  Your children will have no risk.

Question 5

i was told that lyme meningitis isn't contagious through casual contact. is it contagious through sexual contact or kissing?

Accepted Answer

No: Lyme disease is not contagious at all. Please be skeptical about the diagnosis. There is a lot of medical literature showing that it is over-diagnosed. Blood tests for it can often be falsely positive, or misinterpreted. Many people claim to be Lyme disease experts. I would trust only a board-certified infectious disease specialist at an academic center to make the rare diagnosis of Lyme in brain.

Question 6

how is meningitis from lyme disease diagnosed? already have the lyme diagnosis? past er note says "likely lyme meningitis" but no inflammation on mri.

Accepted Answer

Lumbar puncture: Meningitis is diagnosed classically by sending off cerebrospinal fluid analysis from a lumber puncture when there is a clinical suspicion that a patient has this condition. Lyme meningitis can be diagnosed with specialized testing sent on cerebral spinal fluid often in conjunction with serum testing to confirm the presence of Lyme Disease.

Question 7

my husband has lyme meningitis he was put on iv antibotic  rocephin (ceftriaxone) 14 days.  i now there is side effects.  is that treatment  very effective?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It is the treatment of choice for this complication of lyme disease.

Question 8

threshold for treating lyme treated with iv vs po antibiotics? had bell's palsy, meningitis, locked knees and shooting arm pains, and have doxy. 100 mg b.i.d. for 14 days.  i want to avoid a relapse.

Accepted Answer

Lyme disease: F the disease involves the central nervous system, many treat with an IV antibiotic for 14 to 28 days. Although effective in eliminating infection it may take time to recover entirely. My advice would be for the longer course of treatment, but am conservative.

Question 9

early symptoms of meningitis are what?

Accepted Answer

Meningitis: Generally meningitis presents with fever, sensitivity to light and sound, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, changes in mentation and possibly localizing neurological abnormalities, and alterations in sensorium.

Question 10

what are the major symptoms of meningitis?

Accepted Answer

What age?: Generally meningitis presents with fever, sensitivity to light and sound, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, changes in mentation and possibly localizing neurological abnormalities, and alterations in sensorium.

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Doctor answers about:

Lyme meningitis symptoms

A member asked:

How can you distinguish between meningitis and lyme disease?

A member asked:

I want to know what is the difference between meningitis and lyme disease?

A member asked:

Is meningitis from lyme disease contagious?

A member asked:

My friend just told me that she is in the hospital with lyme based meningitis, what exactly is that? also, my kids(ages 4 yrs & 16 week were around her 4 days ago, should i be worried?

A member asked:

I was told that lyme meningitis isn't contagious through casual contact. is it contagious through sexual contact or kissing?

A member asked:

How is meningitis from lyme disease diagnosed? already have the lyme diagnosis? past er note says "likely lyme meningitis" but no inflammation on mri.

A member asked:

My husband has lyme meningitis he was put on iv antibotic rocephin (ceftriaxone) 14 days. i now there is side effects. is that treatment very effective?

A member asked:

Threshold for treating lyme treated with iv vs po antibiotics? had bell's palsy, meningitis, locked knees and shooting arm pains, and have doxy. 100 mg b.i.d. for 14 days. i want to avoid a relapse.

A member asked:

Early symptoms of meningitis are what?

A member asked:

What are the major symptoms of meningitis?

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