Meningitis is an infection and infalmmation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord ( meninges ). Infection
is caused by germs – bacterial ( if not treated may be life-threatening and lead to mild or severe but permanent damages ) or viral ( rather mild ). It may spread with blood or from the respiratory tract. It is contagious but it differs with the type of the disease. Meningococus and Hemophillus influenzae for example may cause epidemics.
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
Infection caused by: in children Hemophilus influenzae and pneumococcus, in adults meningococcus and pneumococcus. More rare types appear in newborn infants and people with poor immunity and suffering from chronical diseases.
Symptoms are: stiff neck, vomiting,more and more intensive headache, rapid fever, progressive loss of consciousness, irritability and sleepiness even coma if not treated,
lack of appetite and sometimes signs of shock.
Very serious infection can be diagnosed when skin rash with bleeding spots which is rapidly developing appears.
Meningococcus and Hemophilus influenzae are very contagious other forms are less contagious. It is neccesary to isolate people for 24 hours after the start of treatment.
It should be treated with intravenous antibiotic or anibiotics, thorough observation and treatment of complications if such occur.
To establish diagnosis spinal tap ( lumbar puncture ) is neccesary as quick as possible to determine type of meningitis.
It is potentially life – treathening. Possible complications are: seizures, blindness, deafness, fluid collection in ill person,s head, nervous system damage – from mild to severe, abscesses and infections in different parts of patient’s body.
VIRAL ( ASEPTIC ) MENINGITIS
Caused by several types of viruses that include enteroviruses ( usually appear in the early autumn and late summer ). Measles and mumps can also end with meningitis.
It is contagious but not all people who get the the germ will suffer from this disease.
Symptoms are: gradual development of fever, sensitivity of eyes to the light, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, headache, irritability, sleepiness, general aches and pains, sometimes red rash.
It is not very comfortable but mild and usually doesn’t require treatment and aftereffects hardly ever occur. Sometimes there is partial deafness after measles and mumps.
In treatment important is to relieve headache and supply intravenous fluids in severe vomiting. Hospitalization may be required for observation.
The disease requires lumbar puncture and examination of the fluid because it is necessary to exclude bacterial infection.