Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections
| Definition: |
Infections of the brain, spinal cord, or meninges by single celled organisms of the subkingdom PROTOZOA. The central nervous system may be the primary or secondary site of protozoal infection. Examples of primary infections include cerebral amebiasis, granulomatous amebic encephalitis, primary amebic meningoencephalitis, and TRYPANOSOMIASIS, AFRICAN. Cerebral malaria, cerebral babesiosis, and chagasic meningoencephalitis are examples of secondary infections. These diseases may occur as OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS or arise in immunocompetent hosts. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1998, Ch27, pp37-47) |
| Notes: |
coord IM with specific protozoan infection (IM) and specific site/dis term (IM) if pertinent; DF: CNS PROTOZOAL INFECT |
| Also Called: |
Cerebral Protozoal Infections,Meningoencephalitis, Protozoal |
| Previously Indexed: |
Amebiasis (1966-1999) |
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections Categories.
 |
Malaria, Cerebral - A condition characterized by somnolence or coma in the presence of an acute infection with PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM (and rarely other Plasmodium species). Initial clinical manifestations include HEADACHES, SEIZURES, and alterations of mentation followed by a rapid progression to COMA. Pathologic features include cerebral capillaries filled with parasitized erythrocytes and multiple small foci of cortical and subcortical necrosis. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p136) |
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections Definitions and Terms
MedicalGlossary.org is designed as a free, browsable resource for all. The medical terms and definitions are not intended to replace medical informaion provided by licensed healthcare professionals. Please see a doctor if you need medical assistance. Don't see the medical term you were researching? Send us an e-mail from our "about us" page. We will do our best to research and classify new medical terms in a timely manner. Our current list of medical terms is over 26,000. Data sources include the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004 Medical Subject Headings.
|