CSF findings: Glucose 4.0 mmol/L, Protein 1.00 g/L, Lactate 2.0 mmol/L. Most likely diagnosis?

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CSF findings: Glucose 4.0 mmol/L, Protein 1.00 g/L, Lactate 2.0 mmol/L. Most likely diagnosis?

CSF patterns differ by cause: bacterial infections tend to lower glucose, raise lactate, and push protein high; fungal infections often lower glucose and raise protein; viral infections usually keep glucose normal, lactate normal, with only mild to moderate protein elevation. In your results, the glucose is normal, lactate is within the normal range, and protein is elevated but not dramatically. This combination fits viral meningitis best, since the metabolic markers (glucose and lactate) are preserved rather than diverted by bacterial or fungal pathogens. Subarachnoid hemorrhage would show blood in the CSF rather than this inflammatory profile.

CSF patterns differ by cause: bacterial infections tend to lower glucose, raise lactate, and push protein high; fungal infections often lower glucose and raise protein; viral infections usually keep glucose normal, lactate normal, with only mild to moderate protein elevation. In your results, the glucose is normal, lactate is within the normal range, and protein is elevated but not dramatically. This combination fits viral meningitis best, since the metabolic markers (glucose and lactate) are preserved rather than diverted by bacterial or fungal pathogens. Subarachnoid hemorrhage would show blood in the CSF rather than this inflammatory profile.

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