Actor Brad Pitt Leaves Hospital After Treatment for

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Actor Brad Pitt Leaves Hospital After Treatment for Viral Meningitis

By Peggy Peck, Senior Editor, MedPage Today

Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University

of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

July 14, 2005

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/tb/1357

Remind patients about the importance of hand washing to prevent

infections such as viral meningitis.

Advise patients that the sudden onset of fever, severe headache and

stiff neck may be signs of meningitis, symptoms that require

evaluation by a physician.

Review

LOS ANGELES, July 14-Film star Brad Pitt, 41, is resting at home

today after a brief hospitalization for treatment of viral

meningitis, according to his spokesperson.

The actor, who developed flu-like symptoms a week after returning

from a trip to Ethiopia in East Africa, checked in to Cedars Sinai

Medical Center on Monday night. After his release Wednesday, his

publicist said Pitt was " diagnosed with a mild case of viral

meningitis. " ........................

When the diagnosis is indeterminate, the majority of clinicians use

empiric antibiotics until culture results are available (24 to 48

hours). If the patient is symptomatically improved, antibiotics are

generally discontinued when the culture is negative and the patient

is discharged. If symptoms persist or worsen, a repeat lumbar

puncture is performed and the differential diagnosis should include

fungal and mycobacterial infections.