Increased intracranial pressure

y Vomiting y Refusal to eat

in babies
y Diarrhea y Drowsiness y Joint pain or

muscle pain
y Stomach

cramps
y Whimpering

cry in babies

Pathophysiology

Bacterial Invasion through the bloodstream

Bacteria enters the subarachnoid space

places where the bloodbrain barrier is vulnerablesuch as the choroid plexus

Large scale of inflammation occurs

Release of large amounts of cytokines, hormone-like mediators that recruit other immune cells and stimulate other tissues to participate in an immune response

Large numbers of white blood cells enter the CSF, causing inflammation of the meninges

y Leading to
The blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable "interstitial" edema y The wall of the blood vessels themselves becomes inflamed (cerebral vasculitis) the wall of the blood vessels themselves becomes inflamed (cerebral vasculitis)

leading to "vasogenic" cerebral edema