Differential diagnosis of eosinophilic meningitis.

Meningitis - infection o f the meninges - can be attributed to a variety o f agents, including bacteria, protozoa and some helminths. In helminth infections, but rarely in protozoal infections, eosinophilia is a common sign. Thus eosinophilic meningitis (EOM) is typically associated with certain helminth infections in which nervous system involvement occurs. Among the most important of these are ongiostrongyliosis, gnathostomiasis, porogonimiasis and cysticercosis (see Fig. 1). Here, Nibha Jaroonvesoma discusses the key distinctions between such infections.