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A 25-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, neck stiffness, and fever. She also reports nausea and vomiting. On examination, she has a positive Brudzinski sign. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in her management?

A. Administer intravenous corticosteroids

B. Perform a lumbar puncture

C. Order a head CT scan

D. Start empirical antibiotic therapy

E. Perform a blood culture

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Let me know if you need further explanation or another type of question!

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A 25-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a sudden onset of severe headache, high fever, and neck stiffness. He also complains of photophobia and nausea. On examination, he appears lethargic and is found to have a positive Brudzinski's sign. His vital signs include a temperature of 39.5°C, heart rate of 110 bpm, and blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg.

What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Administer broad-spectrum antibiotics immediately
B. Perform a lumbar puncture to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis
C. Order a CT scan of the head
D. Start antiviral therapy
E. Initiate corticosteroid therapy

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A 55-year-old man presents to the clinic with complaints of unsteady gait, sharp pains in his legs, and difficulty controlling his bladder. On physical examination, he has diminished reflexes in the lower extremities and a positive Romberg sign. His medical history includes untreated syphilis several decades ago.

Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A) Multiple sclerosis
B) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
C) Tabes dorsalis
D) Guillain-Barré syndrome
E) Vitamin B12 deficiency

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Sure! Here's a case-based question about myelitis:

A 35-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 3-day history of progressive weakness in her legs and difficulty walking. She also reports urinary retention and numbness below her waist. Her medical history is significant for a recent upper respiratory tract infection two weeks ago. On examination, she has decreased strength in her lower extremities, hyperreflexia, and a sensory level at T10. MRI of the spine shows an area of increased signal intensity within the thoracic spinal cord.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

A) Guillain-Barré Syndrome

B) Transverse Myelitis

C) Multiple Sclerosis

D) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

E) Spinal Cord Compression

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A 20-year-old college student presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, and photophobia. She reports that her symptoms began suddenly two days ago. On examination, she has a positive Brudzinski sign.

Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Start empiric antibiotics immediately and obtain blood cultures

B. Perform a CT scan of the head before lumbar puncture

C. Obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis immediately

D. Administer corticosteroids before antibiotics

E. Admit to the hospital for observation without further intervention

What would you like to discuss further about this question?

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A 25-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. He also reports neck stiffness and photophobia. On examination, he has a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F), a positive Kernig's sign, and a positive Brudzinski's sign. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 15. Blood cultures are taken, and a lumbar puncture is performed, revealing an elevated opening pressure, increased white blood cell count, and elevated protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Which of the following is the most likely etiologic agent of his condition?

A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Neisseria meningitidis
C. Listeria monocytogenes
D. Haemophilus influenzae
E. Herpes simplex virus

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A 25-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, and photophobia. He has a history of sinusitis a week ago. On examination, he is found to have a positive Brudzinski's sign. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis reveals elevated white blood cell count with a predominance of neutrophils, elevated protein, and low glucose.

Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?

A. Streptococcus pneumoniae

B. Neisseria meningitidis

C. Haemophilus influenzae type b

D. Listeria monocytogenes

E. Enterovirus

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A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-week history of severe headaches, fever, and a recent onset of confusion. He has a history of chronic sinusitis. On physical examination, he is febrile and disoriented. A neurological examination reveals right-sided hemiparesis. An MRI of the brain shows a ring-enhancing lesion in the left frontal lobe.

What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Start broad-spectrum antibiotics and perform a stereotactic aspiration of the lesion.

B. Administer high-dose corticosteroids immediately.

C. Perform a lumbar puncture to evaluate for meningitis.

D. Prescribe oral antibiotics for sinusitis and schedule a follow-up MRI.

E. Initiate anti-tuberculous therapy and admit the patient for further observation.

What is your next step in managing this patient?

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Case:

A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, and photophobia for the past 24 hours. His medical history is significant for sinusitis two weeks ago. On examination, he is febrile (38.5°C), and there is positive Kernig's and Brudzinski's sign. Lumbar puncture is performed, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis reveals elevated opening pressure, increased white blood cell count predominantly with neutrophils, decreased glucose concentration, and elevated protein levels.

Question:

What is the most likely causative organism of this patient's condition?

A. Herpes simplex virus

B. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

C. Neisseria meningitidis

D. Borrelia burgdorferi

E. Cryptococcus neoformans

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Sure, here's a case-based question about brain abscess:

A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-week history of worsening headache, fever, and confusion. His medical history includes chronic sinusitis. On examination, he is febrile with a temperature of 38.5°C, has mild neck stiffness, and exhibits signs of increased intracranial pressure. A CT scan of the head reveals a ring-enhancing lesion in the right frontal lobe.

What is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A. Start high-dose corticosteroids

B. Perform lumbar puncture

C. Administer broad-spectrum antibiotics and consult neurosurgery

D. Initiate antiviral therapy

E. Schedule immediate radiotherapy

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A 35-year-old male with a history of chronic sinusitis presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, and new-onset seizures. On examination, he is disoriented and has mild left-sided weakness. MRI of the brain shows a ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding edema in the right frontal lobe. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

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A 35-year-old male with a history of chronic sinusitis presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, and new-onset seizures. On examination, he is disoriented and has mild left-sided weakness. MRI of the brain shows a ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding edema in the right frontal lobe. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

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A. Start empirical antiviral therapy

B. Perform lumbar puncture

C. Obtain neurosurgical consultation for possible drainage

D. Initiate high-dose corticosteroids

E. Start empirical antifungal therapy

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Encephalitis typically presents with a combination of symptoms that reflect both general and specific brain dysfunction. Common clinical features include:

1. Fever: Often accompanied by other systemic signs of infection.

2. Headache: Frequently severe and persistent.

3. Altered Mental Status: Ranges from mild confusion to severe disorientation, agitation, or even coma.

4. Neurological Deficits: These may include focal signs such as weakness, speech difficulties, or sensory changes.

5. Seizures: Can be a prominent feature, especially in cases of severe encephalitis.

6. Photophobia and Neck Stiffness: These are more typical of meningitis but can also occur in encephalitis.

The combination of these symptoms can vary, and the severity can range from mild to life-threatening. Prompt medical evaluation and treatment are essential.

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A 25-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia. On examination, he has a positive Brudzinski sign and Kernig sign. His vital signs include a temperature of 39.5°C, blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg, heart rate of 110 bpm, and respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute. A lumbar puncture is performed, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows an elevated white blood cell count with a predominance of neutrophils, low glucose, and high protein levels.

Which of the following is the most likely etiologic agent?

A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
C. Cryptococcus neoformans
D. Herpes simplex virus
E. Borrelia burgdorferi

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A 25-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, and neck stiffness. He also reports photophobia and nausea. On physical examination, he has a positive Kernig's sign. A lumbar puncture is performed, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows elevated white blood cells, elevated protein, and decreased glucose.

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A 25-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, and neck stiffness. He also reports photophobia and nausea. On physical examination, he has a positive Kernig's sign. A lumbar puncture is performed, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows elevated white blood cells, elevated protein, and decreased glucose.

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What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Viral Encephalitis

B. Bacterial Meningitis

C. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

D. Multiple Sclerosis

E. Brain Abscess

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A 28-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of severe headache, fever, and neck stiffness. She reports photophobia and nausea but denies recent travel or contact with sick individuals. On physical examination, she is febrile and has a positive Brudzinski sign.

What is the next best step in the management of this patient?

A. Administer broad-spectrum antibiotics immediately
B. Order a head CT scan
C. Perform a lumbar puncture
D. Start antiviral therapy
E. Obtain blood cultures

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A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 3-day history of fever, headache, confusion, and personality changes. His family reports that he has also had several episodes of seizures over the past 24 hours. On examination, he is disoriented and has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). A lumbar puncture is performed, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows the following:

White blood cell count: 100 cells/µL (90% lymphocytes)

Protein: 100 mg/dL

Glucose: 55 mg/dL (serum glucose: 100 mg/dL)

MRI of the brain shows hyperintensity in the temporal lobes on T2-weighted images.

Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Bacterial meningitis
B. Tuberculous meningitis
C. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis
D. Fungal meningitis
E. Viral meningitis

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A patient with a brain abscess is most likely to present with which classic triad of symptoms?

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A patient with a brain abscess is most likely to present with which classic triad of symptoms?

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1. Fever, headache, focal neurological deficit

2. Fever, stiff neck, photophobia

3. Headache, visual disturbances, nausea

4. Seizures, confusion, photophobia

5. Vomiting, fever, altered mental status

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Sure, here's a question about encephalitis:

A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 3-day history of fever, headache, and confusion. On examination, she is disoriented to time and place, and there are no focal neurological deficits. Her family mentions she recently returned from a trip to Southeast Asia. Lumbar puncture is performed, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows an elevated white cell count with a predominance of lymphocytes, elevated protein, and normal glucose levels.

What is the most likely cause of her condition?

A) Bacterial meningitis

B) Viral encephalitis

C) Subarachnoid hemorrhage

D) Multiple sclerosis

E) Brain abscess

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A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a headache, fever, and focal neurological deficits. He has a history of chronic sinusitis and was recently treated with antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection. On examination, he is disoriented, has left-sided weakness, and a high-grade fever. An MRI of the brain shows a ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding edema in the right frontal lobe.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Meningitis

B. Encephalitis

C. Brain abscess

D. Primary brain tumor

E. Subdural hematoma

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A 35-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a severe headache, fever, and focal neurological deficits. His medical history is significant for chronic sinusitis. A CT scan of the brain shows a ring-enhancing lesion in the left frontal lobe. What is the most likely causative organism for this patient's condition?

A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Haemophilus influenzae
D. Toxoplasma gondii
E. Escherichia coli

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A 22-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department with a sudden onset of high fever, chills, and a purpuric rash. He also complains of severe headache and photophobia. On examination, he is found to be lethargic with a positive Kernig's sign. His vital signs reveal hypotension and tachycardia. What is the next best step in managing this patient?

A. Administer intravenous ceftriaxone
B. Perform a lumbar puncture
C. Start intravenous fluids
D. Administer intravenous vancomycin
E. Obtain a blood culture

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A 40-year-old woman presents with sudden onset of lower back pain, bilateral leg weakness, and urinary retention. She reports that symptoms began a few days after recovering from a respiratory infection. Neurological examination reveals decreased sensation below the umbilicus and increased deep tendon reflexes in the lower extremities. MRI of the spine shows a hyperintense signal in the thoracic spinal cord. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A. Guillain-Barré syndrome
B. Multiple sclerosis
C. Transverse myelitis
D. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
E. Spinal cord infarction

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Question: A 35-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 12-day history of fever, headache, and progressive confusion. She has a history of unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners and has not traveled recently. On examination, she is febrile, disoriented, and exhibits a right-sided hemiparesis. Fundoscopic examination reveals papilledema. MRI of the brain shows multiple ring-enhancing lesions in the frontal and parietal lobes. A lumbar puncture is performed, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis reveals:

White blood cell count: 300 cells/μL (predominantly lymphocytes)

Protein: 120 mg/dL

Glucose: 40 mg/dL (serum glucose: 90 mg/dL) CSF PCR tests for common viral pathogens are negative. Further laboratory tests reveal a positive HIV antibody test with a CD4 count of 50 cells/μL. Given her immunocompromised status and the imaging findings, which of the following is the most likely etiological agent?

A. Toxoplasma gondii
B. Herpes simplex virus
C. JC virus
D. Cytomegalovirus
E. Cryptococcus neoformans

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A 30-year-old woman presents with sudden onset of severe vision loss in her right eye and bilateral leg weakness. She reports a history of recurrent episodes of optic neuritis and myelitis. Laboratory tests reveal the presence of aquaporin-4 antibodies. MRI of the brain and spinal cord shows longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and lesions in the optic nerves. What is the most appropriate initial treatment for her condition?

A. Intravenous corticosteroids
B. Interferon beta
C. Plasmapheresis
D. Oral prednisone
E. Azathioprine