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Meningitis: an unusual cause of pneumocephalus

S Jayaram1, S Jadhav, D Rathod

  • 1Department of Medicine, Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Grant Medical College, Mumbai.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|January 7, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Meningitis, a rare cause of pneumocephalus (air in the cranium), was identified in a patient. Prompt antibiotic treatment led to successful resolution, as confirmed by follow-up CT scans.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Pneumocephalus, the presence of air within the cranial cavity, is typically associated with head trauma or neurosurgical procedures.
  • While common causes are well-established, rare etiologies require thorough investigation for effective management.

Observation:

  • A case report detailing a patient presenting with pneumocephalus.
  • Diagnostic imaging, specifically CT scans, confirmed the presence of intracranial air.

Findings:

  • The patient's pneumocephalus was attributed to meningitis, an uncommon but significant cause.
  • Treatment with antibiotics resulted in a complete resolution of the pneumocephalus, evidenced by normalized CT scans post-treatment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights meningitis as a potential, albeit rare, cause of pneumocephalus.
  • It underscores the importance of considering infectious etiologies in unexplained pneumocephalus and the efficacy of targeted antibiotic therapy.

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