What diseases does a lumbar puncture show?

A lumbar puncture procedure may be helpful in diagnosing many diseases and disorders, including:

Meningitis.
Encephalitis.
Certain cancers involving the brain and spinal cord.
Bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it (subarachnoid space)
Reye syndrome.
Myelitis.
Neurosyphilis.

How quickly do you get lumbar puncture results?

The doctor or nurse who performs the lumbar puncture can often tell you some of the results straight away and explain what they mean. You may need to wait for at least 48 hours for the full results. Some laboratory test results are available within a couple of hours in an emergency.

What are some side effects that may be experienced after a lumbar puncture?

Potential side effects may include:

headache.
backache.
nausea and vomiting.
dizziness.
irritation of a nerve may cause temporary numbness, tingling or pain down your legs.
infection where the needle was inserted.
bleeding into the spinal canal.

What was the result of the lumbar puncture?

Results. The CSF that is collected during a lumbar puncture will contain protein and glucose and may also contain white blood cells. It will be examined to detect any disruption to the normal flow of CSF or damage to the blood-brain barrier.

What does elevated white blood cells in spinal fluid mean?

An increase of white blood cells indicates infection, inflammation, or bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid. Some causes include: Abscess. Encephalitis. Hemorrhage.

Should there be white blood cells in spinal fluid?

Normally, there are no RBCs in the cerebrospinal fluid, and there should be no more than five WBCs per cubic millimeter of CSF. If your fluid contains RBCs, this may indicate bleeding. It is also possible that you had a traumatic tap (blood leaked into the fluid sample during collection).

What diseases does a lumbar puncture show? A lumbar puncture procedure may be helpful in diagnosing many diseases and disorders, including: Meningitis. Encephalitis. Certain cancers involving the brain and spinal cord. Bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it (subarachnoid space) Reye syndrome. Myelitis. Neurosyphilis. How quickly do you get…