MENINGITIS

Meningitis General Information

Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, protective membranes that cover the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) caused by viruses (very common and not very serious) and bacteria (relatively rare, but very threatening if it is not treated immediately). The three meninges may present swellings and inflammations. Through the cerebrospinal fluid circulating in and around the spinal cord, the bacteria and viruses that have infected the respiratory tract, urinary system, gastrointestinal tract or the skin spread by the bloodstream to the meninges. The symptoms of viral Meningitis are similar to those of the common flu and thus, they are often undiagnosed and if they are, the treatment is based on close observation and antibiotics. In preventing it, it is very important to know the symptoms of this inflammation and to get routine vaccinations or immediately medical care. A severe sinusitis or ear infection (local infections) can also cause the spreading of the bacteria to the meninges. The types of bacteria that cause the meninges inflammation are: Escherichia coli, Listeria momocytogenes and the Group B streptococcus (in newborns), pneumoccocus and meningococcal (in kids between 5 and 12 years old). Enteroviruses (hepatitis A, coxsackievirus, and poliovirus) and herpes viruses lead to viral Meningitis. The diagnosing signs are represented by high fever, delirium, irritability (in little children), seizures, the impossibility to flex the neck forward and the most common, altered mental status, intolerance for loud sounds  and bright light). This disease not only makes people feel sick, but it can affect the ability to learn and think but it is also very rare.

Meningitis Symptoms

The symptoms of this illness can appear quickly or after a couple of days and depend on the age and the infection cause. For example, a child presenting signs of an infection or of a past cold might just have a fever, being lethargic and very irritable. But what is certain is that people presenting the signs should immediately seek medical help. In small kids symptoms can vary from a neck and body rigidity, a yellowish tint to the skin (jaundice), to a weak suck, a high-pitched cry or the swelling of the fontanelles (a soft spot at the top of a newborn’s skull). But Meningitis can cause a series of damages to the nervous system, especially in children: diffuse brain swelling, intra cerebral bleeding, hearing loss, cerebral vein thrombosis, epilepsy, cerebral palsy. The symptoms which are common for the all types of Meningitis are: headaches, stiff neck, skin rashes, seizures, irritability, high fever, photophobia, lethargy (decreased consciousness). The symptoms similar to those of a flu, such as runny nose, high fever and headaches are signs of a viral Meningitis and are so mild that the inflammations remain at the stage of a simple flu, being undiagnosed. This is not that alarming as one may tend to believe because this type of disease is completely gone within 5 to 12 days, with no other complications or complicated treatments. Some other complications also appear in adults’ central nervous system: hydrocephalus, cerebrovascular disease, adult resyndrome. In patients over 55 years old these complication are fatal, increasing the risk of death.

Meningitis Treatment

Meningitis can easily be prevented if you have all the vaccinations that will stop the viruses or the bacteria from invading your internal system. But a more efficient way to avoid those germs from reaching inside your body is to wash your hands regularly, using warm water and an antibacterial soap. It is necessarily to accustom to wash your hands before eating or after using the bathroom or whenever you feel your hands dirty. A smart thing to do is to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough and after, to wash your hands. Bacterial Meningitis can be extremely serious and this is why, if you suspect that someone has any form of it, you should immediately seek medical assistance. In order to establish the right diagnoses, the doctor may require some tests while asking a number of questions to find out the causes of the illness and how long the person has presented the symptoms. In addition, he or she will demand a physical exam and if the doctor thinks that the cause of the person’s illness is Meningitis a spinal tap will be done. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) consists in collecting samples of spinal fluid in some tubes that will show after the examination under a microscope if there are any signs of inflammation and if the infection is caused by a bacteria or virus. If the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the doctor will try to replace the fluids lost to sweating, fever, poor appetite or vomiting starting intravenous antibiotics immediately (usually glucose and minerals) to help a person recover fast. Owing to the seriousness of the bacterial Meningitis, the person will need to remain in a hospital under strict supervision during the treatment. The inflammation is also reduced using corticosteroids, depending on the type of illness. If any complications appear on the way, the specialists will apply additional treatments. A patient presenting difficulty in breathing will need mechanical ventilation or more oxygen. In cases of low blood pressure the doctor will give the right medications and other intravenous fluids. In most of the cases, the complications are severe causing neurological problems (seizures, visual impairment, hearing loss) or affecting the kidneys, adrenal glands or heart. A good treatment followed with strictness and a prompt diagnose are very important in a fast recovery. If this illness is caused by viruses it can also be serious and difficult to treat, but not as much as bacterial Meningitis. It will also need hospitalization for one or two days and after a week the patient can say he is better. While any antibiotics have no effects against these viruses, the main treatment requires a lot of bed rest and traditional cure for a simple flu. Patients who have already had inflammations of the meninges may need a longer recovery.