Michael has been diagnosed with frontal lobe abnormalities. As part of his care and evaluation, it is important to understand the specific functions that the frontal lobe is responsible for.

A. Traveling abroad recently: While international travel can expose individuals to infectious diseases, it is not the most concerning factor in this case compared to his communal living situation.

B. Living in a large, crowded communal setting: Crowded living conditions significantly increase the risk of meningitis transmission, especially for bacterial types like Neisseria meningitidis which spread via respiratory droplets.

C. An infection of the brain tissue, typically due to a virus or bacteria: This describes encephalitis, not meningitis. Meningitis affects the protective membranes, not the brain tissue itself.

D. An inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meninges): This is the correct definition of meningitis and is the pathological hallmark of the disease.

E. Having an allergy to medications: Having an allergy to medications is important for safe patient care and medication administration, but it is not a risk factor for acquiring meningitis.

F. An inflammation of the lungs caused by a viral or bacterial infection: This describes pneumonia, not meningitis. It is unrelated to the direct cause of meningitis.

A. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A TIA presents with stroke-like symptoms that resolve within minutes to hours without permanent damage. Ms. Lauren’s symptom resolution within 6 hours and return to baseline strongly suggests a TIA. Prompt recognition is essential, as TIAs are often precursors to future strokes and require further evaluation.

B. Hemorrhagic Stroke: Hemorrhagic strokes typically present with sudden, severe symptoms such as intense headache, vomiting, or rapid loss of consciousness. These symptoms usually do not resolve quickly. Ms. Lauren’s gradual symptom resolution and stable vital signs are not consistent with this type of stroke.

C. Severe vision loss in both eyes: While visual disturbances can occur during strokes, bilateral severe vision loss is less common and would typically be seen in strokes involving the occipital lobes or vertebrobasilar system. Ms. Lauren’s case does not provide evidence of this symptom, hence an unlikely feature here.

D. Sudden loss of consciousness: Loss of consciousness is more common in massive strokes, particularly hemorrhagic ones or those involving the brainstem. Ms. Lauren remained awake and was able to report symptoms and anxiety, which rules out this presentation.

E. Sudden severe headache with vomiting: This symptom combination is more typical of a hemorrhagic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Ms. Lauren did not report a headache or vomiting, which makes this an unlikely symptom in her current presentation.

F. Ischemic Stroke: Ischemic strokes result in prolonged neurological deficits lasting more than 24 hours. Since Ms. Lauren’s symptoms are resolving within a short window and she is returning to baseline, this is less likely than a TIA in her situation.

G. Sudden weakness or numbness, often on one side of the body: This is a hallmark sign of a TIA or stroke. Ms. Lauren’s initial symptoms were stroke-like and likely included unilateral weakness or numbness, which are classic indicators of a TIA.