Consequences of meningitis in children 3 years old. Meningitis in children: the most useful information for parents about the disease. General characteristics of the disease

- an infectious-inflammatory process affecting the meninges. The course of meningitis in children is accompanied by general infectious (hyperthermia), cerebral (headache, vomiting, convulsions, impaired consciousness) and meningeal syndrome (neck stiffness, general hyperesthesia, meningeal posture, positive symptoms of Kernig, Lessage, Brudzinsky, bulging large fontanel). Diagnosis of meningitis in children requires a lumbar puncture, examination of cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The main principles of the treatment of meningitis in children are: hospitalization of the child, bed rest, antibacterial / antiviral, detoxification, dehydration therapy.

General information

Causes of meningitis in children

Meningitis in children can be caused by a variety of pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa. The most numerous group of causative agents of meningitis in children is represented by bacteria: meningococcus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae serogroup b, staphylococcus, enterobacteria, mycobacterium tuberculosis. Viral meningitis in children is most often associated with ECHO, Coxsackie, mumps, chickenpox, measles, rubella, polio, tick-borne encephalitis, Ebstein-Barr, herpes, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and other viruses. Meningitis in children caused by fungi, rickettsiae, spirochetes , toxoplasma, malarial plasmodium, helminths and other pathogens are among the rare forms.

A potential source of infection is a sick person or a bacteriocarrier; infection can occur by airborne, contact-household, alimentary, water, transmissible, vertical, hematogenous, lymphogenous, perineural routes.

The development of meningitis in newborns contributes to the unfavorable course of pregnancy and childbirth, fetal hypoxia, prematurity, intrauterine infections. In young children, risk factors for the development of meningitis are purulent diseases of various localization (otitis, mastoiditis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, gastroenterocolitis, boils of the face and neck, osteomyelitis, endocarditis), SARS, infectious diseases of childhood, intestinal infections, traumatic brain injury . Predisposition to meningitis in children of the first years of life is explained by the immaturity of the immune system and increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. The background for the development of the pathological process in the membranes of the brain can be malnutrition, defects in child care, hypothermia, changes in climatic conditions, stress, excessive exercise.

Outbreaks of meningitis in children are characterized by seasonality (the peak incidence occurs in the winter-spring period) and cyclicality (an increase in the incidence is noted every 10-15 years).

The pathogenesis of meningitis in children

In primary meningitis in children, the entry gate for infection is most often the mucous membranes of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. Penetration of the pathogen into the cranial cavity and meninges occurs by hematogenous, segmental-vascular or contact routes. Severe toxemia and an increase in the level of biologically active substances create conditions for increasing the permeability of vascular membranes, the blood-brain barrier, the penetration of microorganisms and their toxins into the central nervous system with the development of serous, serous-purulent or purulent inflammation of the meninges.

The accumulation of inflammatory exudate causes irritation of the choroid plexuses of the ventricles of the brain, which is accompanied by an increase in the production of cerebrospinal fluid and an increase in intracranial pressure. It is with the development of hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome that the main clinical manifestations of meningitis in children are associated. The consequence of the expansion of cerebrospinal fluid spaces and compression of brain tissues is the deterioration of perfusion, the development of hypoxia, the release of fluid from the vascular bed and the occurrence of cerebral edema.

With proper treatment of meningitis in children in the phase of reverse development, resorption of inflammatory exudate occurs, normalization of liquor production and intracranial pressure. In the case of irrational treatment of meningitis in children, the organization of purulent exudate and the formation of fibrosis may occur, resulting in a violation of liquorodynamics with the development of hydrocephalus.

Classification of meningitis in children

Primary meningitis in children occurs without prior local inflammation or infection; secondary meningitis in children develop against the background of the underlying disease and act as its complication.

Given the depth of the lesion in the structure of meningitis in children, there are: panmeningitis - inflammation of all meninges; pachymeningitis - predominant inflammation of the dura mater; leptomeningitis is a combined inflammation of the arachnoid and pia mater. Separately, arachnoiditis is distinguished - an isolated lesion of the arachnoid membrane, which has its own clinical features.

According to the severity of intoxication and cerebral syndrome, as well as inflammatory changes in the cerebrospinal fluid, there are mild, moderate and severe forms of meningitis in children. The course of neuroinfection can be fulminant, acute, subacute and chronic.

In etiological terms, in accordance with the affiliation of pathogens, meningitis in children is divided into viral, bacterial, fungal, rickettsial, spirochetal, helminthic, protozoal and mixed. Depending on the nature of the cerebrospinal fluid, meningitis in children can be serous, hemorrhagic and purulent. The structure of pathology in pediatrics is dominated by serous viral and bacterial (meningococcal, hemophilic, pneumococcal) meningitis in children.

Symptoms of meningitis in children

Regardless of the etiological affiliation, the course of meningitis in children is accompanied by general infectious, cerebral, meningeal symptoms, as well as typical inflammatory changes in the cerebrospinal fluid.

General infectious symptoms in meningitis in children are characterized by a sharp increase in temperature, chills, tachypnea and tachycardia, the child's refusal to eat and drink. There may be pallor or hyperemia of the skin, a hemorrhagic rash on the skin associated with bacterial embolism or toxic paresis of small vessels. Separate non-specific symptoms occur in certain forms of meningitis in children: acute adrenal insufficiency - with meningococcal, respiratory failure - with pneumococcal, severe diarrhea - with enterovirus infection.

For the cerebral syndrome that accompanies the course of meningitis in children, intense headaches are typical, associated with both toxic and mechanical irritation of the meninges. Headache can be diffuse, bursting or localized in the frontotemporal or occipital region. Due to reflex or direct irritation of the receptors of the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata, repeated vomiting occurs, not associated with food intake and does not bring relief. Impaired consciousness in meningitis in children can be expressed in drowsiness, psychomotor agitation, the development of a soporous state or coma. Often, with meningitis, children experience convulsions, the severity of which can vary from twitching of individual muscles to a generalized epileptic seizure. It is possible to develop focal symptoms in the form of oculomotor disorders, hemiparesis, hyperkinesis.

The most typical for meningitis in children is meningeal syndrome. The child lies on its side, with its head thrown back; arms bent at the elbows and legs bent at the hip joints ("cocked cock pose"). Hypersensitivity to various irritants is noted: hyperesthesia, blepharospasm, hyperacusis. A characteristic sign is neck stiffness (the inability to press the child's chin to the chest due to the tension of the neck muscles). Due to increased intracranial pressure in infants, there is tension and bulging of a large fontanel, a pronounced venous network on the head and eyelids; percussion of the skull produces the sound of "ripe watermelon". The symptoms of Kernig, Brudzinsky, Lessage, Mondonesi, Bekhterev are characteristic of meningitis in children.

Suspicion of meningitis in children is an indication for a lumbar puncture and obtaining CSF for biochemical, bacteriological / virological and cytological studies. The results of the study of cerebrospinal fluid make it possible to differentiate meningism and meningitis, to determine the etiology of serous or purulent meningitis in children.

With the help of serological methods (RNGA, RIF, RSK, ELISA), the presence and increase of specific antibodies in the blood serum are detected. PCR-study of cerebrospinal fluid and blood for the presence of pathogen DNA is promising. As part of the diagnostic search, bacteriological cultures of blood and nasopharyngeal discharge are carried out on selective nutrient media.

Etiotropic therapy of meningitis in children involves intramuscular or intravenous administration of antibacterial drugs: penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, carbapenems. In severe meningitis in children, antibiotics can be administered endolumbally. Until the etiology is established, the antibiotic is prescribed empirically; after receiving the results of laboratory diagnostics, a correction of therapy is carried out. The duration of antibiotic therapy for meningitis in children is at least 10-14 days.

After establishing the etiology of meningitis in children, anti-meningococcal gamma globulin or plasma, anti-staphylococcal plasma or gamma globulin, etc. can be administered. In viral meningitis in children, antiviral therapy with acyclovir, recombinant interferons, endogenous interferon inducers, immunomodulators is performed.

The pathogenetic approach to the treatment of meningitis in children includes detoxification (administration of glucose-salt and colloidal solutions, albumin, plasma), dehydration (furosemide, mannitol), anticonvulsant therapy (GHB, sodium thiopental, phenobarbital). In order to prevent cerebral ischemia, nootropic drugs and neurometabolites are used.

ultrasonography).

Among the measures aimed at reducing the incidence of meningitis, the main role belongs to vaccination. When a child with meningitis is identified in a children's institution, quarantine measures are taken, a bacteriological examination of contact persons is carried out, and a specific gamma globulin or vaccine is administered to them. Non-specific prevention of meningitis in children consists in the timely and complete treatment of infections, hardening of children, teaching them to observe personal hygiene and drinking regimen (washing hands, drinking boiled water, etc.).

Meningitis belongs to the group of the most dangerous diseases, and can cause irreversible changes in the body (developmental disorders, disability, etc.). In addition, they often die from this disease.

First signs: how does meningitis begin in children?

Meningitis can be primary or secondary. Depending on this, the signs of the disease may be of a different nature.

Watch a video about the signs of meningitis in a child:

Clinical manifestations

Regardless of the nature of the occurrence, the clinical picture of meningitis has a set of common features:

1. General infectious symptoms - the most serious symptom is the occurrence of intoxication, which leads to the development of various disorders in the body (for example, hormonal disorders, water-salt, etc.).
2. Meningeal syndrome - this process is due to the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the meninges. Conditionally divided into cerebral symptoms (photophobia, dizziness, headache) and meningeal (Kernig's, Brudzinsky's symptoms, etc.).
3. Changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (for example, with purulent meningitis, turbidity of the cerebrospinal fluid is observed, the amount of protein increases, etc.).

Why do spots appear?

The appearance of spots on the skin of a child is a very dangerous symptom of meningitis.. This phenomenon is called meningeal rash, and, as a rule, begins with the legs, gradually rising higher and higher. The main reason for the appearance of spots lies in the detrimental effect on the child's body of meningococci.

As a rule, the appearance of a rash is characteristic of purulent meningitis, therefore, it is urgent to start treatment, otherwise the consequences can be the most dire.

Does it happen without temperature?

It should be noted that often not always the child may have a full set of symptoms characteristic of meningitis. In particular, it is not at all necessary to increase body temperature. It can stay the same.

IMPORTANT: However, in any case, at the slightest suspicion that a child has this disease, it is necessary to urgently contact a medical institution, since sometimes the bill can go no longer for days, but for hours.

Babies should be especially carefully monitored, as they cannot express in words what exactly worries them.

How to recognize at home?

There are some of the most striking childhood symptoms of meningitis, the appearance of which directly signals a developing disease. As mentioned above, these symptoms are called meningeal. In this way, knowing meningeal symptoms, you can check for meningitis in a child at home. So, let's look at them in detail.

Kernig's symptom - is expressed in the fact that the patient, lying on his back with a leg bent at the knee, as well as in the hip joint, cannot straighten it due to the fact that the muscles of the back of the thigh are strongly spasmodic. At the same time, trying to bend one leg, the second also begins to bend reflexively.

Brudzinsky's symptoms - contain a combination of signs that signal damage to the meninges.

So, the following 4 symptoms are distinguished, with which you can determine meningitis in a child even at home:

Brudzinsky's symptoms in children at an early age are usually very mild.

Bekhterev's symptom - is called the zygomatic symptom, and is expressed in the fact that with a light tapping on the cheekbones with a hammer, the patient has a severe headache, and a painful grimace appears on his face. This indicates pathological processes occurring in the brain.

How to know for sure: diagnostics

In order to accurately diagnose the disease, the patient's condition is assessed based on the following factors:

• clinical picture;
• physical examination;
• MRI, x-ray;
• general blood test;
• lumbar puncture.

ADVICE: It should be noted that the most accurate way to determine if a child has meningitis is to perform a lumbar puncture.

Causes of childhood illness

As a rule, the main cause of the disease is the penetration of various bacteria and viruses into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. In particular in children, the cause of this disease is most often enterovirus infections, which can be contracted through food, dirty water, etc.

Separately, it should be noted that children are more susceptible to meningitis. This is explained by the fact that children have a very poorly developed blood-brain barrier. In other words, the vessels of the child's brain contain a large number of pores, where various infections and bacteria can easily enter.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The inflammatory process can affect both all three layers of the brain, and one of them. The brain and spinal cord has three membranes: soft, arachnoid and hard. With inflammation of the soft and arachnoid membranes, they speak of leptomeningitis . With inflammation of the hard shell - pachymeningitis .

Meningitis can occur as an independent disease, or as a complication of any disease. As a rule, inflammation of the pia mater occurs more often. Meningitis is formidable in its complications.

Classification.

By the nature of the inflammatory process:

• Purulent.

Origin:

• Primary.
• Secondary - due to infection from another inflammatory focus - otitis media (inflammatory process of the outer ear, osteomyelitis of the skull bones, furuncle of the face and neck).

Type of pathogen:

• Bacterial.
• Viral.
• Fungal.
• Protozoan.
• Mixed.
• Helminthic.

By the nature of the flow:

• Fulminant (lightning fast).
• Spicy.
• Subacute.
• Chronic.

According to the localization of the inflammatory process:

• Spinal.
• Total.
• Basal.
• Convexital (convex surface of the brain).

By severity:

• Light.
• Medium-heavy.
• Heavy.

In clinical practice, the more common types of meningitis are:

• Meningococcal (bacterial) - children under 5 years of age are more likely to get sick.
• Secondary purulent.
• Viral.
• Fungal (in AIDS patients, after chemotherapy, in pregnant women).

How is meningitis transmitted and how common is it?

Meningitis has a clear seasonal relationship. The winter-spring period is more typical. The most sensitive are children under 5 years of age (because the immune system is not mature and there is an increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier) and men.

The mechanism of transmission of infection:

• Drip.
• Fecal-oral.
• Contact.
• Gemo - contact.

But the most common route of transmission is airborne, sometimes contact-household.

Causes of exacerbation in the winter - spring period:

1. A sharp drop in air temperature.
2. Increased humidity.
3. Prolonged stay in poorly ventilated rooms.
4. Decreased immunity, hypoavitaminosis.

Purulent meningitis is caused by such pathogens: meningococci, tubercle bacillus, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, salmonella.

Viral meningitis is caused by: enteroviruses (rubella, measles, chicken pox).

Source of infection:

• Sick person.
• Carriers of pathological microorganisms.
• A patient with a catarrhal form of an infectious disease.

Pathogenesis (pathological processes that occur in the body during the development of the disease).

The place of penetration (entrance gate) is most often the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract. When microorganisms enter the mucous membrane, local inflammatory reactions develop, the infection multiplies and enters the blood or lymph. Then hematogenous or lymphogenous way enters the meninges.

The inflammatory process spreads not only along the membranes, but also along the adjacent tissues of the brain. The inflammatory reaction disrupts vascular permeability, resulting in massive edema of the meninges and adjacent tissues. Microcirculation also suffers significantly. Hypersecretion (increased formation) of liquor is observed, which leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which is clinically manifested by a severe arching headache. With basilar meningitis, cranial nerves (III, IV, V pairs) are irritated by inflammatory exudate.

Symptoms and signs of meningitis.

Signs of meningitis in both children and adults are quite diverse. All symptoms of meningitis can be divided into 3 syndromes:

1. General infectious syndrome. This syndrome is typical for meningitis of different etiology and localization. Common infectious signs of meningitis include:

• Acute onset of the disease (with serous and tuberculous meningitis, the progression of the disease is gradual, due to the prodromal period).
• An increase in body temperature (usually up to 38.0 - 38.5 degrees).
• Chills.
• Decreased appetite.
• Lethargy, drowsiness, apathy.
• Paleness of the skin.
• Weakness of cardiac activity (changes in heart rate and blood pressure).

1. cerebral syndrome. As a rule, these symptoms of meningitis are characteristic of all its types.

• Intense, throbbing (sometimes bursting) headache, which is more pronounced in the frontal-temporal region.
• Nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief. May be single or repeated, not related to food intake.
• Violation of orientation and consciousness (sometimes coma).
• Spasms of individual muscles or generalized seizures.
• Sometimes the presence of a venous network on the face (mainly in the eyelids) and head is noticeable.
• Expansion of the venous network in the fundus on both sides.

In infants, often signs of meningitis are a constant "brain" cry, tension and swelling of the fontanels, a pronounced divergence of the cranial sutures. The cause of such symptoms of meningitis in children is a pronounced increase in edema - swelling of the brain (hydrocephalus). Matseven's symptom is often determined - with percussion of the bones of the skull, a "sound of a cracked pot" is heard.

1. meningeal syndrome. These symptoms of meningitis in children and adults are the main clinical landmark in the diagnosis:

• The characteristic (forced) position of the patient in bed is the head thrown back, the back is arched, the stomach is pulled in, the arms are bent at the elbow joints and brought to the body, the legs are bent at all joints and pressed to the stomach.
• Moderate or severe tension (rigidity) of the occipital muscles, which makes it difficult to passively bring the patient's chin to the chest.
• Kernig's sign - the inability to straighten the leg at the knee joint when it is bent at the hip. It is not pain that interferes with extension, but the tension of the posterior thigh muscle group (tonic sheath reflex). The most common and persistent symptom of any type of meningitis.

• The upper symptom of Brudzinsky - with a passive attempt to bring the patient's chin to the chest, lying on his back, the patient's legs are bent at the knee and hip joints.

• The average symptom of Brudzinsky is the same reaction of the legs when pressing on the pubis (pubic joint).
• The lower symptom of Brudzinsky - with a passive attempt to bend one leg of the patient in the knee and hip joints, the second leg is bent in the same way.
• Subzygomatic (cheek) symptom of Brudzinsky - when pressed directly under the cheekbones of the patient, there is a reflex raising of the shoulders and flexion of the forearms (due to the characteristic posture, this symptom is called the "cross" symptom).
• Herman's symptom (symptom "neck - big toe") - when trying to passively bend the patient's neck, stretching of the big toes is observed.
• Symptom "suspension" Lessage. The infant is lifted by the armpits, holding the head from the back with two fingers, while lifting, there is an arbitrary bending in the large joints of the legs and pulling them to the stomach. In this position, the legs are for a long time. In a healthy newborn child in this position, active mobility of the legs is noted (they bend and unbend).
• Symptom of Mondonesi - there is pain when pressing the eyelids.
• Photophobia.

All three syndromes in full are observed extremely rarely. As a rule, when diagnosing a disease, 2-3 symptoms of meningitis from each syndrome can be determined, which is sufficient for making a preliminary diagnosis.

Diagnostic methods.

Clinical signs of meningitis are not sufficient to make a definitive diagnosis. One of the most important diagnostic steps is spinal cord puncture and cytological examination of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid).

Liquor is a fluid that is synthesized by the ventricles of the brain, namely the choroid plexuses. About 500 - 600 ml of liquor are synthesized per day, about 0.35 ml per minute. Normal CSF pressure is 100 - 150 mm Hg. (in the supine position). At puncture, the pressure is estimated by the number of drops flowing out in 1 minute. Normally, the number of drops should not exceed 40-60 drops.

The presence of an inflammatory process in the cerebrospinal fluid is confirmed only if pleocytosis (excessive content of cellular elements) is observed.

Inflammatory signs of meningitis in the cerebrospinal fluid:

• Increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid (during puncture, the cerebrospinal fluid flows out in streams or frequent drops, sometimes the cerebrospinal fluid may leak out in rare drops, since the protein content is significantly increased).
• Color and transparency changed (cloudy and white or yellow-green).
• An excess number of lymphocytes or neutrophils, sometimes mixed pleocytosis (with different types of meningitis, the cellular composition is different, which is one of the important criteria for differential diagnosis).
• Excess protein.
• Increased or reduced content of sugar and chlorides.

To confirm meningitis and establish the pathogen, special diagnostic methods are used (bacteriological, bacterioscopic examination of mucus from the nasopharynx and liquor).

Equipment for the collection and transportation of material.

Mucus from the nasopharynx is taken with a cotton swab (sterile). The fence is best done on an empty stomach and before starting antibiotics. The shelf life of the material is not more than 1 hour at a temperature of 37.0 C. The immediate place of mucus sampling is the space under the soft palate (nasopharynx), while pressing on the root of the tongue with a sterile spatula. After taking the tongue, the swab should not touch the tongue, cheeks and teeth.

Bacterioscopic method - a method by which the pathogen is determined visually using a light microscope. A Gram smear is prepared from the material or stained with methylene blue. As a rule, this method allows to exclude the fungal etiology of meningitis.

The bacteriological method is a method of growing a pathogenic microorganism on special media under certain conditions. This method takes some time and for an effective result, certain conditions must be carefully adhered to. Using the bacteriological method, it is possible to determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to certain antibiotics.

Serodiagnosis is a diagnostic method that is able to determine the presence of an antigen or antibody to a pathogen in different environments of the body, the presence of immunoglobulins. This method is the most accurate and modern. As a rule, cerebrospinal fluid is subjected to serodiagnosis (the antibody titer and the index of the ratio of specific antibodies - ISST) are determined. If ISST is greater than 1.5, this indicates the presence of an infection in the central nervous system.

A variety of serodiagnosis is express methods:

• PCR (polymerase chain reaction). This method allows you to determine the DNA of the pathogen.
• ELISA (immuno - enzyme analysis). This method determines the titer of antigens not only in the cerebrospinal fluid, but also in feces, urine and saliva.

The most important thing in the diagnosis of meningitis is the timely diagnosis and identification of the pathogen. The sooner adequate therapy is started, the less likely complications will occur.

Treatment of meningitis in children and adults.

1. Etiotropic therapy. Designed to eliminate the pathogen.

• with purulent meningitis - use antibiotics.
• with viral meningitis - use antiviral drugs.
• with protozoal meningitis - antiprotozoal drugs.

Antibiotics are used with a wide spectrum of action, after checking the patient for sensitivity (to prevent anaphylactic shock). Antibiotics are introduced into the body parenterally, mainly intravenously. The duration of antibiotic therapy is at least 10 days and 7 days after normalization of body temperature.

With meningococcal meningitis, the drug of choice is penicillin, at a dosage of 260,000 - 300,000 IU per 1 kg of body weight per day. The interval of administration of the drug should not exceed 4 hours (6 times a day).

In secondary purulent meningitis, therapy is aimed at eliminating the primary focus of inflammation. Depending on the pathogen, a specific antibiotic is used in an individually calculated dosage. Parallel administration of sulfonamides is required. In this case, it is important to use vitamin therapy - group B and ascorbic acid.

For tuberculous meningitis, anti-tuberculosis drugs are used.

• isoniazid - 5-10 mg per 1 kg of body weight.
• streptomycin - 1 g per day for 8 weeks.
• etamzilat - 15 -30 kg per 1 kg per day.
• rifampicin - 600 mg per day.

Treatment lasts for 6 months in stationary conditions. In outpatient clinics - at least 6-8 months. The course of therapy is about 12-18 months.

Antibiotic treatment of meningitis in children.

For bacterial meningitis:

Children up to 4 weeks. -ampicillin 300-400 mg / kg / day. and a 3rd generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime 200 mg/kg/day every 4–6 hours or ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day every 12–24 hours) or ampicillin and an aminoglycoside (tobramycin 7.5 mg/kg/day After 6–8 hours, the duration of treatment is 2–3 weeks.

Children from 4 to 12 weeks. -ampicillin and 3rd generation cephalosporin at the same doses. The duration of treatment is 10 days.

From 3 months up to 18 years - 3rd generation cephalosporin or ampicillin and chloramphenicol 75-100 mg / kg / day. The duration of treatment is 10 days.

For viral meningitis:

With vomiting and nausea - antiemetics (promethazine 25 mg / m every 3-4 hours).

At body temperature above 38.0C -60 mg for 1 year of life or 10-15 mg / kg.

1. Symptomatic therapy. It is prescribed without fail for different types of meningitis. The following groups of drugs are used:

• Diuretics - for the prevention of edema - swelling of the brain (urogluk 0.5 - 1.5 g per kg, injected intravenously, the rate of administration is 60 -80 drops per minute; manitol - 15 -20% solution intravenously at a dose of 0.5 - 1.5 g per 1 kg of dry matter; lasix - 20-60 mg 1 time in two days.
• A complex of vitamins - to improve metabolism in neurocytes. Cytoflovin (a complex of vitamins of group B, PP, succinic acid and riboxin) is widely used.

It has effects: restores the cellular composition of the cerebrospinal fluid, provides an antioxidant effect, increases the body's immunity, improves metabolic processes in brain cells.

• Infusion therapy - is aimed at detoxification and restoration of water - salt balance (novocaine salt, reopoliglyukin, reosorbtlakt, etc.). The daily dosage is calculated individually for each patient, taking into account clinical and laboratory parameters.
• Glucocorticosteroids - used in parallel with antibiotics. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, prevent hearing loss and other neurological disorders. Dexamethasone - 0.15 mg per 1 kg of body weight every 5-6 hours, for 4-5 days.

Dr. Komarovsky talks about the first symptoms and signs of meningitis in children.

Meningitis is a dangerous infectious disease that affects all age groups of people. Often this pathology develops in children, because their immunity is not sufficiently developed and the blood-brain barrier is practically absent. It is in children that meningitis causes severe complications, regardless of how quickly and professionally medical care was provided to the patient.

Causes of infection with meningitis in childhood

Meningococcal infection is spread by airborne droplets and most often children become infected with it from other sick people (or bacteria carriers), from animals (mainly from rodents), through dirty objects.

In the course of the research, several pathogens were identified that provoke the development of the infectious disease in question:

• viruses - rubella, smallpox, influenza and others;
• pathogenic bacteria - staphylococcus aureus, meningococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, salmonellosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
• fungus - candida;
• the simplest microorganisms - toxoplasma, amoeba.

According to statistics, in 60-70% of cases, the causative agent of the considered infectious disease in children is meningococcus - both a person and an animal can be a carrier of this pathogenic bacterium. After meningococcus enters the child's body by airborne droplets, the development of the inflammatory process in the meninges begins - it is he who is classified in medicine as meningitis.

Symptoms of meningitis in children

Signs of meningitis in children are the same as in adults:

• high body temperature and fever;
• vomit;
• headache of an acute nature with a feeling of fullness from the inside;
• increased sensitivity to light (photophobia);
• muscle pain;
• irritability;
• loss of appetite, up to a complete refusal to eat.

If an infant is infected with a meningococcal infection, the disease will manifest itself with anxiety and compaction of the fontanel. And the first symptoms of the infectious disease in question in children from 2 to 10 years old will be hyperthermia (fever) and irritability, often accompanied by a rash on the skin and mucous membranes.

Important:if a child has a sudden increase in body temperature to critical levels, incessant vomiting, tension of the occipital muscles (the child lies with his head thrown back) and convulsions, then you need to urgently seek medical help - the prognosis of the disease depends on how quickly it is provided.

Diagnosis of meningitis takes place in a medical institution, the event includes:

• a survey of the patient or his parents - how long ago the symptoms appeared, how severe they were, what diseases the child had in the recent past (doctors will be interested in viral pathologies);
• examination of the child and confirmation of symptoms of meningitis;
• blood and urine sampling for laboratory tests - general, biochemical analyzes.

To make a diagnosis, doctors also use Kernig's syndrome - a marker of damage to the membranes of the brain in stroke, meningitis, irritation of the membranes in bacterial infections, and Brudzinsky's syndrome, which reveals signs of damage to the membranes of the brain due to the provocation of the meningeal posture.

Important: the main procedure that will “put an end” to diagnostic measures is spinal puncture - a puncture is made in the lumbar region with a long needle and a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) is taken for examination. With meningitis, the cerebrospinal fluid will be cloudy, thick, and a laboratory study of the material will indicate the presence in the cerebrospinal fluid of a high number of leukocytes, pathogenic bacteria.

Treatment of meningitis in children

Therapeutic measures in diagnosing the infectious disease in question are carried out exclusively in a hospital - constant monitoring of the child's condition is necessary in order to be able to prevent the development of serious complications.

Medical therapy

First of all, the doctor must find out the etiology of meningitis in a particular child - it can be bacterial or viral. Only after this test will medications be prescribed:

• in the case of bacterial etiology of meningitis, broad-spectrum antibacterial agents (antibiotics) (cephalosporins, penicillins, and others);
• with viral meningitis - antiviral (Acyclovir, Interferon, Artepol and others).

note: antibacterial drugs (antibiotics) are allowed to be used for treatment for no more than 7 days in a row. If it is necessary to continue therapy, it is necessary to replace the drug in order to avoid addiction of the body and adaptation of pathogenic bacteria to the drug.

Meningitis is almost always accompanied - this is due to the accumulation of a large amount of fluid around the brain, which puts a lot of pressure on it. The child complains of headache attacks, loses sleep and becomes irritable. To relieve this syndrome, doctors prescribe Furosemide or Lasix. These drugs belong to the group of diuretics and contribute to the removal of excess fluid from the body.

If the intake of diuretic drugs did not give results, then it is recommended to perform a lumbar puncture - by puncturing a special needle in the lumbar region of the spinal canal, a certain amount of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is taken.

In 40% of cases, children are disturbed by cramps of the lower extremities - this not only brings pain, but also serves as a reason for the development of fears and anxiety. To solve the problem, children can be prescribed Seduxen or Domosesdan - sedative drugs that are not addictive and do not act aggressively on the central nervous system.

To alleviate the condition of a sick child and to speed up recovery, the following recommendations should be followed:

• the patient should find in a darkened room - this is due to increased sensitivity to light, which disappears after the removal of inflammation;
• the child should not be nervous, worried and cry - it is necessary to apply maximum conditions to create a healthy psychological environment;
• the body with meningitis is weakened and its immune system requires outside help - patients must definitely take vitamin complexes;
• to facilitate general well-being, a sparing diet is required - hot dishes are excluded (even soups should be warm), sweets, fatty foods, marinades and pickles (they have an exciting / irritating effect on the nervous system).

ethnoscience

In no case should you treat meningitis in a child exclusively with home remedies - they are not able to kill pathogenic bacteria or viruses. But as an aid that can support the body during the fight against meningococcal infection, folk recipes will be very appropriate.

When diagnosing meningitis, children can be safely given:

1. A decoction of poppy seeds. It is necessary to take a teaspoon of poppy seeds (confectionery, sold in grocery stores), pour 150 ml of boiled hot milk and insist for 12 hours in a thermos. The next day, a sick child should be given a tablespoon of decoction three times a day for half an hour before meals.
2. Lavender infusion. It perfectly helps to relieve cramps of the lower extremities and has a sedative effect. You can prepare an infusion from 3 teaspoons of dried lavender flowers and 3 cups of boiling water, the infusion time is 40 minutes. Scheme of application: 50 ml 4 times a day.
3. Herbal collection. Mix 20 g of lavender flowers, valerian roots, rosemary leaves and peppermint, pour the mixture into a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Children can take this medicine 100 ml twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

Baths and wraps have a good effect in the treatment of meningitis in children. Baths with infusions of string, oregano, mint and lemon balm have a calming effect, provide a good night's sleep and relieve headaches. To carry out this procedure, you need to prepare a decoction of one or all of the above components at once and pour it into a bath of warm water (the proportions of dry ingredients and water are taken arbitrarily). The time spent by the child in the bath should not exceed 20 minutes, the water should be warm (not hot).

Wraps are great for convulsive syndrome - the child is simply wrapped in a sheet soaked in saline (a tablespoon in a glass of warm water). The time spent in the sheet is 20 minutes.

Headaches with meningitis in children can also be removed with a compress from an alcohol tincture of mint - 50 g of peppermint leaves are taken per 100 ml of alcohol, insisted for a day. Then you need to moisten a napkin (gauze, rags) in tincture and apply to the temples and the back of the head during an exacerbation of the headache for no more than 10 minutes.

Important : any folk remedies for the treatment of meningitis in children can be used only after consultation with your doctor.

After the course of treatment for meningitis in a child is over, the patient should be observed by a neurologist for several more months (at least 2) - severe consequences may develop even some time after a seemingly successful treatment. The child is contraindicated in physical activity and exposure to the open sun for another 5 months after the complete elimination of meningococcal infection.

Possible complications of meningitis in children

If a child has been diagnosed with serous meningitis (without the formation of purulent contents), then with timely seeking medical help, the infection will not cause any complications. But in case of delay or refusal to take medicines in children against the background of meningitis develop:

• sleep disorders;
• incomplete perception of the information provided;
• memory impairment;
• recurring headaches;
• spontaneous convulsive syndrome.

Important:such consequences are not pronounced intensity, they can appear within 5 years after the treatment of meningitis, but at an older age they completely disappear.

In the case of meningitis in children in a complicated form, if the disease is purulent, the central nervous system is affected . In this case, the consequences will be very severe:

• violation of the speech apparatus;
• deterioration of hearing and vision, up to the complete loss of these functions;
• lag in the mental development of the child;
• dysfunction of the motor apparatus;
• paralysis and paresis;
• epilepsy.

Very dangerous complications that are diagnosed against the background of meningitis in children in 5% of cases are:

• re-development of the inflammatory process in the meninges;
• development of inflammation in the brain (encephalitis);
• violation of cardiac and respiratory activity;
• cerebral edema;
• intracranial hypertension (persistent increased intracranial pressure).

After the full treatment of meningitis in children, rehabilitation is necessary - it is carried out in specialized sanatoriums and hospitals. For 5 years after the removal of the diagnosis, the child should receive sanatorium treatment every year and undergo preventive examinations by doctors.

Read more about the symptoms, signs of meningitis in children and treatment methods in the video review.

Meningitis in medical practice is called a rather dangerous disease, which usually occurs in severe form. It is immediately worth noting that the pathology affects adults and children. According to statistics, boys are more likely to get sick. A condition occurs due to the influence of a viral, bacterial or fungal infection on the body. This article will help you understand the symptoms of meningitis in children, methods of treatment, consequences, and the disease can be seen in the photo.

causative agents of infection

Many people think that meningitis is a disease caused by a specific pathogen. This is far from true. The causative agents of the disease are numerous pathogenic agents. Most often, pathology in children from two months of life is caused by such viruses and bacteria:

• Neisseria meningitidis;
• Listeria monocytogenes;
• Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• haemophilus influenzae.

When it comes to newborns, micro-organisms such as Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli are the cause of meningitis. In addition, patients with congenital or acquired brain injuries often have staphylococcal infection, anaerobic bacteria, and polymicrobial flora.

Causes of the disease

If we talk about the pathogenesis of the disease, it should be noted that the pathogens of meningitis can get into the region of the brain and directly into the subarachnoid space in various ways. More often it is not possible to accurately diagnose the path of penetration of a pathogenic agent.

In bacterial meningitis, the pathogen enters the brain in two ways. Primary bacterial meningitis occurs due to the entry of a pathogenic bacterium directly from the mucous membrane to the brain tissues. Secondary - the spread of infection from nearby foci, for example, from the region of the ENT organs or from distant areas, such as the lungs and some others.

Viruses, fungi and bacteria enter the subarachnoid space with the blood and lymph flow. It is in this area of ​​the brain that there is no cellular and humoral protection against pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, pathogenic microorganisms reproduce well in this environment, because there are constant conditions of humidity, temperature and availability of nutrients. Reproduction of pathogenic microflora occurs until the moment of phagocytosis. As a result of complex reactions in which microglial cells take part, the body's reaction is triggered in the form of an inflammatory process. After that, the patient develops a number of clinical signs that make it possible to diagnose meningitis.

Parents often ask how meningitis is transmitted and why it happens? In fact, it is not meningitis that is transmitted, but the microorganisms that provoked it. If we consider the question of whether this pathology is contagious, the answer will be unambiguously positive. You can get sick through contact with an infected person.

Due to the fact that the causative agents of meningitis are viruses, bacteria or fungi, the routes of transmission can be as follows:

• airborne;
• contact household;
• oral-fecal;
• from mother to child at birth if the woman was infected during pregnancy
• through poorly washed vegetables and fruits;
• through water and dirty hands.

It is possible to protect the child by observing the rules of hygiene, as well as by protecting the patient from an infected person.

Types of meningitis

Doctors distinguish several types of pathology. Depending on the etiology, infectious, infectious-allergic, fungal, neuroviral, traumatic and microbial types of pathology are distinguished. Meningitis of the microbial type is divided into influenza, serous, tuberculous and herpetic. In addition, the disease is classified depending on the location:

• pachymeningitis - damage to the hard membranes of the brain;
• leptomeningitis - damage to the soft and arachnoid membrane of the brain;
• panmeningitis - defeat of all membranes of the organ.

It should be noted that with the development of the inflammatory process due to the defeat of pathogenic microflora in the area of ​​​​the arachnoid space, pathology is distinguished into a separate group. It is also called arachnoiditis.

Depending on the origin, the pathology is divided into primary meningitis (neurovirus forms of the disease) and secondary (due to the defeat of syphilis, tuberculosis, serous and other infections). If we take into account the nature of the fluid circulating in the ventricles of the brain (liquor), meningitis is divided into purulent, serous, hemorrhagic and mixed types.

All types of the disease have a similar clinical picture. The patient has an increase in intracranial pressure, a severe headache of a bursting nature. A person feels strong pressure in the ears, temples and eyes. Significantly increases the reaction to sounds and light, often there is a rash, vomiting, fever.

You should go to hospitals without waiting for the development of dangerous symptoms. A quick response to the problem will help save the life of the baby, prevent serious consequences.

ICD-10 code

According to the international classification of diseases, meningitis is divided into several types:

• influenza - G00.0;
• pneumococcal - G00.1;
• streptococcal - G00.2;
• staphylococcal - G00.3;
• meningitis provoked by other pathogens - G00.8;
• unstable bacterial - G00.9.

General classification of diseases of the nervous system - G00-G99. Inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system - G00-G09.

Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis

The causative agent of this type of pathology in children is meningococcus. In this case, the onset of meningitis is acute, the patient develops meningeal and cerebral symptoms. Among them are the following:

• a sharp increase in body temperature to 39-40 degrees;
• body aches, severe pain in the head;
• pain when moving the eyes;
• dizziness, nausea;
• vomiting "fountain", which does not entail relief;
• thirst.

Meningococcal infection in children causes an increased reaction to stimuli such as touch, sound, light.

The patient shudders, which indicates the convulsive readiness of the body. If we talk about children under one year old, it is worth emphasizing that they have convulsions - this is the first sign of developing meningitis. If convulsions occur in older children, then we are talking about a severe course of the disease, which requires immediate hospitalization. After 8-12 hours, the child has meningeal syndrome. This causes stiffness of the muscles of the occipital region, as well as symptoms of irritation of the membranes of the brain (Kernig's symptoms) and Brudzinsky's signs. In severe cases, paresis develops, reflexes are reduced or absent.

The nature of the rash

The appearance of rashes on the body is a specific sign of meningococcal infection in children. Skin lesions occur in 70-90% of cases. Rashes of irregular shape form on the body of the child. They can be small in diameter or merge with each other. Such manifestations are localized on the eyelids, sclera, thighs, buttocks. With the further development of meningitis, areas with necrosis are rejected, which leads to the formation of scars. In particularly severe situations, blood poisoning may develop, as a result of which death may occur.

The main difference between the meningeal rash is that it does not rise above the surface of the dermis, it has a necrosis area in the center.

In addition to the main signs of meningococcal infection in children, the following symptoms can be noted:

• skin necrosis. Due to the severe and prolonged course of the disease, blood vessels suffer. They develop inflammation and thrombosis. As a result, vascular ischemia, subcutaneous hemorrhages occur. This symptom is most pronounced in those areas of the dermis where there is compression. The ulcers formed in this case heal for a rather long time, a bacterial infection often joins, and colloidal scars form. Necrosis is difficult to treat;
• conjunctivitis and uveitis. Such complications are quite common in meningococcal infections. As a rule, modern antimicrobial treatment avoids severe consequences in the form of panophthalmitis and blindness;
• strabismus. The abducens cranial nerve runs along the base of the brain. The severe course of this type of disease is often accompanied by the development of strabismus. This happens due to damage to this nerve and the development of paralysis of the lateral rectus eye muscles. With proper treatment, such a symptom goes away after 10-14 days;
• partial or complete deafness that cannot be treated. Such a formidable complication can occur in children due to the spread of the pathogen into the inner ear. Only timely treatment of meningitis helps to prevent this consequence.

Based on the above information, it can be seen that the pathology has rather severe symptoms and dangerous complications in children.

With the development of the first signs of the disease, one should not hesitate. Every minute of the development of meningitis entails the risk of irreversible consequences.

Signs of purulent meningitis

Purulent meningitis is a severe form of pathology in children, which is caused by several types of infection. Pathology is divided into meningococcal (causative agent of meningococcus), pneumococcal (causative agent pneumococcus) and hemophilic form (pathogen Haemophilus influenzae).

Common symptoms in children

The onset of the disease, as with other forms of meningitis, has a rapid and acute course. From the first day of brain damage by infection, the patient's body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. In some cases, the temperature in a child reaches 40 degrees Celsius. It is important to note that traditional antipyretic drugs such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and others do not help to normalize the temperature.

Common symptoms of purulent meningitis in children include:

• severe headache. At the same time, it is not possible to clearly determine its localization. The pain intensifies with bright light, loud sounds, a change in body position;
• nausea not caused by meals. In many children, nausea is accompanied by vomiting. At the same time, antiemetic drugs do not give the expected therapeutic effect;
• photophobia. In bright light, the child has pain in the eyes. Unpleasant sensations intensify when trying to consider an object;
• convulsive syndrome. When trying to stretch the legs, the child has an increase in headache and tension in the back of the neck. This symptom is one of the positive meningeal signs;
• in severe cases, the patient has trembling of the limbs. Usually, such manifestations require immediate medical attention in the intensive care unit.

In addition, signs of intoxication of the body are growing. The general well-being of the child sharply worsens. Children are capricious, become lethargic, refuse to feed. Babies cry even in their arms. Due to the high temperature, drowsiness and weakness develop. If untreated, the consequences of this condition can be the most negative.

The nature of the rash

What does a rash look like in children with meningitis? The appearance of a rash on the body refers to adverse symptoms during the course of the disease. This characteristic feature is found in all parts of the body, in the oral cavity. More often it can be seen on the sides of the body, on the stomach, buttocks, feet. The rash can have a small diameter, merge with each other into larger formations.

Manifestations of serous meningitis

It is believed that most cases of serous meningitis are caused by viral diseases. As a rule, these are enteroviruses. Less commonly, the pathology is caused by the mumps virus, influenza, parainfluenza and herpes. Most affected are children under the age of 7 years.

The first symptoms of the disease

The incubation period of serous meningitis usually lasts from three to ten days. Its duration depends on the immune system of the child. After the end of the incubation period, the first characteristic signs appear:

• pain when touching the skull - a symptom of Pulatov;
• contraction of the muscles of the face when trying to press on the cheekbones - Bekhterev's symptom;
• the child's legs cannot be straightened, he keeps them bent at a right angle - Kernig's symptom;
• if you try to tilt the baby's head forward, he automatically pulls his legs up - the top symptom of Brudzinsky;
• involuntary pulling of the legs to the body with pressure on the lower abdomen - the average symptom of Brudzinsky;
• if the child straightens one leg, the second will bend involuntarily - the lower symptom of Brudzinsky.

Based on these signs, meningitis can be easily suspected. Symptoms can be seen in the photo.

If parents find at least one or more of them, it is imperative to call an ambulance.

Clinic for the further development of pathology

Symptoms that indicate damage to the tissues and nerves of the brain include:

• increase in body temperature;
• decreased visual acuity and hearing;
• double vision before the eyes;
• development of strabismus;
• apathy, capriciousness, drowsiness or, conversely, arousal of consciousness;
• some children have hallucinations;
• drooping of the upper eyelid, involuntary fluctuation of the eyes.

Some signs may be absent or mild. This is due to the characteristics of the organism of a child.

The nature of the rash

The appearance of a rash on the body is a rather dangerous sign, which often leads to negative consequences, the formation of ulcers. At the same time, red or pink spots form on the body, which disappear for a few seconds when pressed. With the further development of the disease, these spots become darker, acquire a bluish tint with a clear center in the middle. If such a symptom is found, doctors should be called immediately, since such rashes indicate the onset of tissue necrosis. If left untreated, the child may die.

Symptoms of tuberculous meningitis

This type of disease develops when the brain is damaged by a tubercle bacillus. The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, can affect children and adults. Most tuberculous meningitis is detected in children from 2 to 6 years. The onset of the pathology is usually acute or subacute.

First manifestations

Tuberculous meningitis in children begins with a prodromal stage. In this case, the child has such clinical signs:

• headache, which is more pronounced in the evening;
• repeated vomiting that is not associated with feeding;
• apathy, drowsiness;
• negative reaction to noise and bright light;
• indifference to surrounding events;
• subfebrile indicators of body temperature;
• pallor of the dermis.

Parents often confuse such signs with overwork or a cold, so they are in no hurry to see a doctor.

Features of the further course of the disease

After a few days, the child's symptoms worsen. The baby becomes restless, sleeps and eats poorly. The stool is disturbed, tachycardia, respiratory failure appears. Body temperature rises to 38 degrees. After 3-5 days, the symptoms increase again:

• meningeal signs appear - symptoms of Brudzinsky, Kernig;
• convulsions, paralysis occur;
• breathing becomes uneven;
• heart rhythm is disturbed;
• strabismus and ptosis occur;
• photophobia develops.

As with other forms of pathology, a rash may appear on the child's body, which indicates a severe course of the disease. In the absence of medical care, in most cases, death occurs.

In young infants, tuberculous meningitis is accompanied by swelling of the fontanel.

Consequences of infectious pathology

If meningitis is detected in a child in a timely manner and the necessary treatment is carried out, the consequences of its serous form, as a rule, develop extremely rarely. If there is no treatment or the disease is severe, complications may be of the following nature:

• decreased quality of sleep;
• difficulties in the perception of information by the child;
• impaired concentration and memory;
• frequent headaches;
• convulsions, often observed at night.

The most commonly described effects are mild, can be observed within five years after meningitis. If the baby fell ill at 11-13 years old, then up to 17 years old he can still experience various complications. As they get older, they disappear on their own.

Complications after purulent meningitis

If in childhood the patient suffered purulent meningitis with a severe course, the consequences may be as follows:

• speech disorder;
• decreased vision and hearing, including their complete loss;
• impaired mental development of the child;
• malfunctions of the musculoskeletal system;
• development of epilepsy;
• paralysis, convulsions.

The purulent form of infectious pathology is considered one of the most dangerous, difficult to treat. In this regard, the consequences of the disease can be quite serious.

Disability is one of the most severe consequences of various forms of meningitis.

Sequelae of meningococcal infection

Regarding meningococcal meningitis, the following consequences can be distinguished:

• paresis, paralysis;
• hydrocephalus;
• epilepsy;
• neuroendocrine disorders;
• cerebrosthenia;
• pyelitis, cystitis;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases.

For the prevention and treatment of various consequences after the transfer of meningitis, the patient needs competent rehabilitation, which is carried out in a hospital. In the future, the child is recommended to undergo sanatorium treatment, attend health camps for children.

Life-threatening complications

Terrible consequences of the transfer of meningitis in childhood are considered to be conditions that occur in about 5% of patients with purulent or complicated course of the disease. These include:

• re-inflammation of the membranes of the brain;
• meningoencephalitis;
• violation of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems;
• cerebral edema;
• persistent increase in intracranial pressure;
• death.

Only timely diagnosis of the disease and its competent treatment helps to protect the child from the above conditions.

Negligent attitude to the health of the baby and attempts at self-treatment, as a rule, lead to serious consequences.

Meningism in children requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. In addition to checking the symptoms of Kernig and Brudzinski, doctors use the following methods during diagnosis:

• collection and examination of blood and urine tests;
• assessment of the level of glucose, urea, creatinine and other indicators;
• smears from the nose and mouth for pathogenic microorganisms;
• blood test for HIV infection;
• liver tests;
• study of serological parameters of blood;
• biochemical analysis;
• bacterioscopy, bacteriological culture.

In addition, such instrumental diagnostic methods as computed tomography, X-ray, electroencephalogram of the brain are used.

Often, with the development of pathology, an examination by specialists of a narrow profile (neurologist, ENT, cardiologist, and others) is required. Only proper and comprehensive treatment will help save the patient's life.

Laboratory indicators

It is impossible to test a child for meningitis without laboratory tests. At home, diagnosis can only be carried out by a medical professional, while the doctor takes into account the presence of positive symptoms of Kernig and Brudzinsky. This test allows not to diagnose, but only to suspect a dangerous disease.

Further detection of the disease is carried out by evaluating the biological material of the patient in the laboratory:

• a blood test helps to detect the presence of meningococcal and pneumococcal infections. This is evidenced by elevated leukocytes. At the same time, the leukocyte formula shifts to the left, the production of antidiuretic hormone increases, hyponatremia develops;
• urine analysis for meningitis shows an increase in protein concentration, often there is an admixture of blood;
• bacteriological cultures from the nose, ear, mouth often show the presence of meningococcal infection;
• liver tests are performed to differentiate from other pathologies with similar symptoms.

The combination of such research methods helps to confirm or refute the diagnosis of meningitis.

Without laboratory studies of the patient's biological material and the use of instrumental diagnostic methods, it is impossible to establish a diagnosis.

How is meningitis treated in children?

Anyone can contract the infection that causes meningitis. According to statistics for Russia, there are three cases of the disease per 100,000 people. The mortality rate is about 14%. In connection with such an alarming statistic, pathology should be treated in a timely manner. Only the right therapy helps to prevent dangerous consequences.

Therapy tactics

Treatment of infectious pathology is carried out in a hospital. In this case, complex treatment is used to fight the infection, alleviate the condition of the child, prevent dehydration and other negative consequences.

Treatment tactics include the following areas:

• compliance with bed rest in the acute period of meningitis;
• diet compliance. Breastfeeding is indicated for children under one year of age. Older patients are advised to eat sparingly using easily digestible foods;
• Antibiotics are used to fight the infection that causes bacterial meningitis. Previously, with the help of laboratory tests, pathogenic microflora is determined;
• the temperature should be brought down in a timely manner with the help of antipyretic drugs;
• after the end of the acute course, the child is prescribed drugs that help restore brain tissue, means to improve the metabolic processes of the central nervous system.

To prevent dangerous consequences, treatment is carried out with the help of general strengthening drugs, anticonvulsants and other medicines. During the recovery period, the child needs competent nursing care, which includes measuring body temperature, assessing the general condition of the patient, monitoring blood pressure, urine output, breathing and other criteria.

Nonspecific prevention of meningitis and its consequences

To prevent meningitis and its severe consequences at any age, certain preventive measures should be followed. These include:

• timely access to a doctor with the development of bacterial, viral and fungal diseases;
• refusal of self-treatment;
• avoiding visiting crowded places during the cold season;
• Improving immunity through proper nutrition, sports and frequent walks in the fresh air;
• compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
• timely treatment of dental diseases.

Compliance with simple preventive rules will help to significantly reduce the risk of infection and the development of serious consequences.

Do I need to be vaccinated

In many forums, you can find active discussions and reviews about vaccinating children against meningitis. Some argue that this is the only way to protect your child from pathology, while others are categorically against it. The opinions of experts on this matter are also divided.

Due to the fact that various bacteria and viruses become the cause of meningitis, there is no single vaccination that could protect against all these diseases. To prevent dangerous consequences in medical practice, a vaccine is used that helps develop immunity to the most dangerous among them (Hemophilus influenzae, pneumococci, meningococci).

Types of vaccines and their name

In the table you can find the names of the vaccines that are most often used to protect against meningitis.

Prices for vaccines are approximate, the exact cost should be checked with the seller.

Video

After watching this video, you can find out what the popular pediatrician Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky told about the symptoms, treatment and consequences of meningitis