ABSTRACT
This book discusses all aspects infectious CNS pathology, including different bacterial, viral, fungal, mycoplasma and protozoan pathogens, accompanied by illustrations that show macro-and histopathological changes. It also presents microbiological, epidemiological and clinical data, with a particular focus on meningitis and encephalitis of different bacterial and viral aetiologies, influenza, COVID-19 and other viral and bacterial generalized infections. Further, the book explores the importance of mixed infections, including those in the late stages of HIV infection, as well as pathological changes in different age groups including newborns. A special chapter is devoted to the probable role of biological pathogens in noninfectious brain pathology. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
ABSTRACT
During the COVID-19 pandemic, methanol-containing beverages' consumption has risen because people mistakenly believed that alcohol might protect them against the virus. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predisposing factors of brain lesions in patients with methanol toxicity and its outcome. A total of 516 patients with confirmed methanol poisoning were enrolled in this retrospective study, of which 40 patients underwent spiral brain computed tomography (CT) scan. The presence of unilateral or bilateral brain necrosis was significantly higher in the non-survival group (p = 0.001). Also, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and brain edema were prevalent among patients that subsequently died (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002, respectively). Lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was related to a higher mortality rate (p = 0.001). The mortality rate in chronic alcohol consumption was lower than the patients who drank alcohol for the first time (p = 0.014). In conclusion, increasing the number of methanol poisoning and its associated mortality and morbidity should be considered a threat during the COVID-19 pandemic.