What term means dangerous infection of the outer lining of the brain?

• A. Meningitis
• B. Encephalitis
• C. Hyperesthesia
• D. Paresthesia

Answer: (A)

The term refers to inflammation and infection of the meninges, the protective coverings around the brain and spinal cord. When these outer membranes—the meninges—become infected, the condition is called meningitis. It’s considered dangerous because the infection can cause swelling, increased pressure inside the skull, and can spread quickly, potentially leading to brain damage or sepsis if not treated promptly.

Encephalitis, by contrast, is an infection of the brain tissue itself (the brain parenchyma), not the outer lining. Hyperesthesia means abnormal heightened sensitivity to touch, and paresthesia means abnormal sensations like tingling or prickling; neither describes an infection of the brain’s outer lining.