Pneumococcal meningitis masquerading as subarachnoid haemorrhage

Abstract

A 43-year-old woman taking warfarin for past venous thrombosis presented with 4 days of flu-like symptoms and deterioration in level of consciousness. Computed tomography suggested subarachnoid haemorrhage, and magnetic resonance imaging showed widespread cerebral infarcts. However, these seemed out of proportion to the amount of haemorrhage, and lumbar puncture revealed meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.