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meningoencephalitis

meningoencephalitis

1 9.9
Inflammation of the brain, the tissues around it, and the spinal cord
  • noun
  • /məˌnɪŋɡoʊˌɛnˌsɛfəˈlaɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : meningoencefalitis
  • There were 84 cases of acute aseptic meningoencephalitis, 40 of which were fatal.
  • meningoencephalitis and encephalitis

Examples

  • The definition varies, and distinguishing the neurologic syndrome of encephalitis from meningoencephalitis or even meningitis or encephalopathy can be challenging (24, 25).

    Academic text (2015)
  • This study highlights the clinical overlap between encephalitis and meningoencephalitis.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In human infections, symptoms are generally mild but may evolve to severe symptoms, such as hemorrhaging, meningoencephalitis, and retinopathy, with fatal outcomes (3).

    Academic text (2014)
  • We sought to identify etiologic pathogens for patients with a clinical syndrome consistent with encephalitis and meningoencephalitis and to describe the clinical features and outcomes associated with different causes.

    Academic text (2015)
  • After a symptom-free period, which can be a week or more, 20-30% of patients will develop the neurological phase, which may manifest as meningitis (50%), meningoencephalitis (40%), or meningoencephalomyelitis (10%).

    Academic text (2011)
  • Acute meningoencephalitis can cause severe headaches, fever, and confusion, requiring immediate medical attention.

  • Doctors diagnosed him with meningoencephalitis after he exhibited symptoms of neck stiffness and altered mental status.

  • Meningoencephalitis can lead to serious complications, including long-term neurological damage and disability.

Synonyms

cerebromeningitis
vsmeningoencephalitis
  • Specialized
9.9

Swelling and irritation of the brain, spinal cord, and their coverings

means the same but uses a different compound word order
encephalomeningitis
vsmeningoencephalitis
  • Specialized
9.9

A swelling of the brain, the thin layers around it, and the spinal cord

means the same but presents the parts in reversed word order

How Severe

encephalomyelitis
  • Specialized
1 9.9
meningoencephalitis
  • Specialized
1 9.9
cephalitis
  • Specialized
9.9
neuroinflammation
  • Specialized
7.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

meningoencephalitis = meninges + encephalon (opaque) = meningo + encephal + itis

The term is built from specialized medical combining forms for meninges and brain plus the inflammation suffix '-itis', which is unlikely to be transparently understood by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word meningoencephalitis breaks into three parts: mening- meaning 'membranes', encephal- meaning 'brain', and -itis meaning 'inflammation', the same -itis you see in tonsillitis. So, meningoencephalitis is inflammation of the brain and the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord.