Which type of meningitis is typically associated with a normal CSF glucose and a lymphocytic predominance?

Which type of meningitis is typically associated with a normal CSF glucose and a lymphocytic predominance?

• A. Bacterial meningitis
• B. Viral meningitis
• C. Fungal meningitis
• D. Tubercular meningitis

Answer: (B)

Viral meningitis commonly shows a lymphocyte-predominant CSF without a drop in glucose. The inflammatory response to viruses is dominated by lymphocytes, and these infections do not consume CSF glucose as aggressively as bacteria do, so the CSF glucose remains normal or near normal. In contrast, bacterial meningitis usually features neutrophil predominance with low CSF glucose because bacteria and activated immune cells use up glucose, and there’s more metabolic activity in the CSF. Fungal and tubercular meningitis can also have lymphocytes, but they often present with reduced CSF glucose due to higher metabolic activity and altered transport, making the normal glucose with lymphocytic predominance most characteristic of viral meningitis.

Viral meningitis commonly shows a lymphocyte-predominant CSF without a drop in glucose. The inflammatory response to viruses is dominated by lymphocytes, and these infections do not consume CSF glucose as aggressively as bacteria do, so the CSF glucose remains normal or near normal. In contrast, bacterial meningitis usually features neutrophil predominance with low CSF glucose because bacteria and activated immune cells use up glucose, and there’s more metabolic activity in the CSF. Fungal and tubercular meningitis can also have lymphocytes, but they often present with reduced CSF glucose due to higher metabolic activity and altered transport, making the normal glucose with lymphocytic predominance most characteristic of viral meningitis.