Symptoms and treatment of viral meningitis in children. Meningitis: signs in children, incubation period, types of disease

Serous meningitis is a rapidly developing inflammatory process that affects the lining of the brain. In 80% of cases, it is caused by viruses and bacteria. The disease is more susceptible to children aged 3-6 years. In medical practice, there are cases of the disease in schoolchildren and adults, but their number is extremely small.

Symptoms of serous meningitis in children

The first symptoms of serous meningitis appear as early as 1-2 days and are called "meningeal syndrome". These include:

• a rapid jump in body temperature up to 40 degrees;
• constant headache (aggravated by movement of the eyes, bright light and loud sounds);
• convulsions;
• increased irritability;
• weakness;
• pain in muscles and joints;
• problems in the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain);
• cough;
• runny nose;
• sore throat;
• dry mouth;
• pallor of the nasal triangle;
• increased heart rate;
• the appearance of spots on the skin;
• impaired consciousness (slow reaction, stupor);
• problems caused by nerve damage (strabismus, difficulty swallowing);
• respiratory paralysis;
• in infants, the fontanel swells;
• I can't touch my chin to my chest.

Symptoms of serous meningitis can be expressed in varying degrees of intensity. After 3-5 days they pass. When they appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment. Otherwise, the consequences of the disease can be serious and irreversible.

Causes of the disease

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The causes of serous meningitis are distinguished by the nature of the occurrence:

• primary - an independent inflammatory process;
• secondary - a complication of an already existing infectious or bacterial disease.

The main causative agent are infections of the enterovirus group (Coxsackie, ECHO). The disease can also begin to develop as a result of viruses such as infectious mononucleosis, mumps, influenza, measles, herpes, adenovirus, arenavirus, Epstein-Barr virus (we recommend reading:).

In addition, the causative agents of the disease can be bacteria:

• Koch's stick (tuberculosis);
• syphilis;
• pale treponema.

Determination of the cause of serous meningitis is necessary for the appointment of antimicrobial therapy. It is worth remembering that timely treatment allows you to quickly cope with the disease and minimizes the risk of any complications.

Who is at risk?

Because serous meningitis is an infectious disease, it primarily affects people with weak immune systems. That is why the disease most often occurs in children aged 3-6 years, because the protective functions of their body have not yet been fully formed.

Serous meningitis can also affect adults and school-age children. This is possible only as a result of severe exhaustion of the body, chronic diseases, regular stress, malnutrition, severe hypothermia, lack of vitamins and minerals. Often meningitis occurs in people with cancer and immunodeficiencies.

The risk group also includes people living in conditions that do not meet the requirements of sanitary standards. Such premises are an excellent place for the reproduction of various infections.

Ways of infection

Infections that cause serous meningitis enter the body in a variety of ways. Sometimes there is infection of the child from the mother during pregnancy, with blood transfusions and bites of insects and dogs. Such cases are extremely rare. The most common ways are airborne, water and contact. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Airborne

Airborne infection is transmitted when it is located and multiplies on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract of a sick person. During coughing, sneezing, kissing or talking, the virus enters the air through saliva, quickly spreads and settles on the nasopharyngeal mucosa of people around.

Water

In recent years, serous meningitis in children has become seasonal. The number of sick people increases significantly in the summer. The fact is that enteroviruses that provoke the disease do not die in the water, so during the swimming season there is a high probability of infection through the dirty water of various reservoirs and pools.

Contact

Viruses constantly settle on objects surrounding an infected person. Upon contact with such things, an infection occurs in a healthy body. Failure to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene, unwashed vegetables, poor quality drinking water can cause infection that provokes the development of serous meningitis.

The first signs of the disease and the incubation period

The incubation period of the disease is 2-10 days. It depends on the human immune system. The first signs by which meningitis can be recognized include:

• Kernig's symptom - it is impossible to unbend the legs bent at a right angle;
• tripod symptom - it is impossible to sit straight (the body is tilted forward, and the head and arms are back);
• the upper symptom of Brudzinsky is automatic bending of the legs when the head is tilted forward;
• the average symptom of Brudzinsky - during pressure in the lower abdomen, the legs are involuntarily pulled up to the body;
• lower Brudzinsky syndrome - when you try to straighten one leg, the second will bend;
• symptom of ankylosing spondylitis - when you press the cheekbone, the muscles of the face contract;
• Pulatov's syndrome - painful sensations with a sharp touch of the skull.

Signs of damage to the cranial nerves can also be:

• heat;
• deterioration of vision and hearing;
• double vision;
• nystagmus - involuntary fluctuations of the eyes;
• ptosis - drooping of the upper eyelid;
• strabismus;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• increased agitation or drowsiness;
• hallucinations.

A dangerous sign is the appearance of a rash. It has the appearance of red or pink spots that disappear when pressed. They first appear on the legs and quickly spread throughout the body. After a few hours, the spots become bluish in color with a darker center.

When such a rash appears, you should immediately call an ambulance team, otherwise a fatal outcome is possible. These spots are the necrosis of tissues as a result of the onset of blood poisoning, provoked by meningococcus.

The mechanism of development of serous meningitis

The development of serous meningitis includes the following stages:

1. The infection enters the body and the inflammatory process begins. How long it takes depends only on the protective functions of the body. In this case, the active reproduction of the virus (incubation period) occurs.
2. As a result of this, there is a violation of hemodynamics and, as a result, an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid), which causes meningeal syndrome.
3. In the future, there is a thickening of the membranes of the brain, as a result of which serious complications can occur.

Ways to treat meningitis in children

Treatment of serous meningitis is carried out exclusively in a hospital under the supervision of specialists. This is necessary for constant monitoring and prevention of the development of severe complications. The course of therapy includes mandatory drug treatment and the creation of all conditions for a speedy recovery.

The therapy regimen is prescribed only after finding out the root cause of the disease (bacteria or virus):

1. Antibacterial drugs are used to treat meningitis caused by various kinds of bacteria. These include broad-spectrum antibiotics ("Ampicillin", "Bilmitsin", "Amoxicillin", etc.). Their feature is the addiction of bacilli to drugs, so it is not recommended to use them for more than a week. In this case, you just need to replace the medicine with another one.
2. With viral meningitis, antiviral drugs are prescribed (Acyclovir, Artepol, Interferon).
3. As the disease develops, a large amount of fluid accumulates in the head, which increases intracranial pressure. To remove fluid, diuretics are prescribed (Furosemide and Lasix). If there is no result, a lumbar puncture is done.

To reduce the number and intensity of seizures, sedatives are prescribed (Seduxen or Domosesdan). They are absolutely safe for children and are not addictive.

The following actions will also help to speed up recovery and alleviate the general condition of the child:

• creating subdued lighting (in patients, sensitivity to bright light is significantly increased);
• maintaining a calm psychological atmosphere (stress and nervous tension are contraindicated for the child);
• taking multivitamin preparations (to maintain the protective functions of the body);
• diet (it is not recommended to eat hot food, sweet, fatty, sour, salty).

Consequences of the disease

With timely access to a doctor, the consequences of viral meningitis are minimal or non-existent. At an advanced stage of the disease, as a result, there may be:

• regular headaches;
• sleep problems;
• memory impairment;
• poor perception of new information;
• convulsions;
• deterioration of hearing and vision (in rare cases, their complete loss is possible);
• developmental delay;
• speech disorder;
• epilepsy;
• violations in the work of the motor apparatus;
• weakening of the muscles of the limbs;
• paralysis.

Such consequences are possible only in the most severe cases. That is why, at the first signs of serous meningitis, it is necessary to immediately contact a specialist.

Many parents scare their children with meningitis so that they constantly monitor their health and say that this is a very serious disease. Indeed, such fears are justified. What actually is this disease? What preventive measures does modern medicine offer? That is what this article will be about.

general information

Meningitis is a fairly serious disease that involves the development of an inflammatory process. It is localized mainly in the membranes of the brain, as well as the spinal cord. Despite the fact that for many decades scientists have been trying to fight this disease, it very often entails a lot of negative consequences. Moreover, doctors identify a number of features of the disease in children, which all parents should know about. Thus, timely detection of the disease will allow you to immediately take the necessary measures.

Meningitis in children requires exceptionally qualified therapy. In this case, home treatment should not be considered. Despite the emergence of antibiotics and other effective drugs, over the past 50 years, mortality from this disease has not decreased. That is why when the primary symptoms of the disease appear, it is so important to seek help from a specialist.

Classification

Depending on the type of pathogen, meningitis in children is conventionally divided into several forms, namely:

• viral;
• bacterial;
• fungal;
• caused by protozoa (toxoplasma, amoeba, etc.).

Pathogenic bacteria enter the human body initially. Then they provoke the development of serous or purulent inflammation in the membranes of the brain, which leads to tissue edema. The patient, as a rule, worsens blood microcirculation in the vessels of the brain. This process is often accompanied by an increase, which entails the development of dropsy of the brain. In the future, the inflammatory process can spread to the so-called roots of the cranial and spinal nerves and directly to the substance of the brain itself. The incubation period of meningitis in children can last from two days to approximately 10 days.

Only two of its forms are considered the most common: viral and bacterial. The latter variant of the disease is considered especially dangerous for infants under six months. As a rule, it proceeds in a severe form and provokes long-term complications.

Viral meningitis in children is most often associated with a pre-existing infection in the body, which initially manifested itself as a lesion of the gastrointestinal tract, nose or throat. As a rule, this form of the disease lasts less than two weeks, and in mild cases, the healing process is noted as early as the fourth day.

Main reasons

These include:

• bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa;
• birth trauma;
• various diseases of the nervous system;
• reduced immunity;
• prematurity;
• mechanical injury.

Symptoms

According to experts, in young patients, the symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves in different ways. Below we list the main signs of meningitis in children, characteristic of all its forms:

• Headache aggravated by external stimuli (bright light, loud music, etc.).
• High temperature (up to 39 degrees), which is not reduced by all known antipyretic drugs.
• Vomit.
• Stiffness of the muscles in the occiput and back.
• Eruptions on the skin.
• Constant drowsiness, fatigue, excessive moodiness.
• Seizures.
• Loss of consciousness.

How is viral meningitis different in children? Symptoms in this case appear suddenly. In young patients between the ages of two and approximately 10 years, fever initially develops, and only after that drowsiness and irritability appear. In babies up to a year old, doctors call capriciousness and the appearance of a dense fontanel as the main signs of the disease. Patients over 10 years of age predominantly suffer from severe headaches, high blood pressure and rashes all over the body.

Bacterial meningitis in children also begins with a fever, and after a few days other accompanying symptoms appear. Severe muscle pain, respiratory and digestive disturbances may be present. Older patients, as a rule, complain of severe headaches, drowsiness and the so-called unconsciousness.

Diagnostics

Of course, not always the primary signs of meningitis in children are considered the basis for the diagnosis. It is very important in this case to conduct a complete examination. It involves a lumbar puncture, which is necessary for the study of cerebrospinal fluid. The procedure itself is performed with a small sterile needle. The specialist introduces it into the lower back, where the brain canal is located. During this procedure, special care must be taken not to damage nearby nerves.

If the liquid taken for analysis has a whitish tint, most likely it is a bacterial form of the disease. Viral meningitis can be diagnosed if the fluid is clear and comes out of the puncture under strong pressure.

In addition, diagnostics also involves the study of blood for protein and sugar, cell composition.

In addition to puncture, if meningitis is suspected in children, doctors prescribe an X-ray of the skull, computed tomography and electroencephalography. All of the above tests are really necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.

What should be the therapy?

First of all, it should be noted that the treatment of meningitis in children at home is unacceptable. Medical care should be provided only in a hospital and under the constant supervision of a qualified specialist. This ailment is dangerous because the condition of a small patient at any time can worsen somewhat and even become critical. In this case, emergency resuscitation measures are required, which can only be carried out in a clinical setting. Treatment of meningitis in children involves taking antiviral and appropriate antibacterial drugs, the choice and dosage of which depend on the form of the disease and the patient's condition.

Competent therapy is important not only to eliminate the root cause, but also to restore the functioning of nerve cells, eliminate symptoms. To normalize the functioning of the central nervous system, the drugs Nootropil and Piracetam are most often prescribed. To get rid of the symptoms of toxicosis, the following drugs are recommended: Lasix, Torasemide.

The recovery period is usually 3-4 days, if appropriate measures were taken without delay. The cerebrospinal fluid usually returns to normal within a week. Then a second puncture is scheduled. In case of unsatisfactory results, the doctor adjusts the therapy.

Treatment: viral meningitis

In children, the symptoms in the initial stages are similar to those of the well-known flu. However, a high temperature already indicates the presence of the virus in the body. Independent attempts to help the child can only aggravate the situation.

Therapy in this case involves taking antibiotics. It can be very difficult to determine the root cause of the disease, therefore, at the initial stage, specialists prescribe broad-spectrum drugs, and minor adjustments are possible throughout the course. Their reception, as a rule, lasts about 10 days, and after - another week (when the body temperature returns to normal).

To neutralize cerebral edema, diuretics are recommended (Diakarb, Uregit, Lasix). It is important to combine these medications with drinking plenty of fluids.

Children after meningitis of this form should visit a neurologist for some time.

Treatment: bacterial meningitis

In this case, doctors prescribe intravenous injections of antibiotics and corticosteroids. The main function of the latter is to suppress the existing inflammatory process. As with viral meningitis, the doctor prescribes the simultaneous administration of several antibiotics at once (this can be Amoxil, Flemoxin, Benzylpenicillin). After determining the bacteria that provoked the disease, the only and most effective medication is left.

To minimize the possible negative consequences of meningitis in children, experts recommend special saline solutions necessary to restore the water-salt balance in the body. It is very often disturbed due to high fever, vomiting and increased sweating.

Rehabilitation

As noted above, the first signs of meningitis in children must be stopped at an early stage. In the case of timely seeking help from a specialist, the likelihood of a positive outcome of therapy is very high. After a course of treatment, a small patient is allowed to lead a normal life, since the disease practically does not damage the main systems of internal organs. However, it would be better not to burden the child with physical and psychological stress beyond the norm.

Possible Complications

If doctors timely determined the presence of this disease in a small patient, took appropriate measures aimed at eliminating it, one should not be afraid of serious deviations in health. If the appeal to the hospital was not immediate or the parents began to help the child on their own, as a rule, the following consequences of meningitis in children are possible:

• blindness;
• complete deafness;
• toxic shock;
• delay in physical / mental development;
• cerebral edema;
• adrenal insufficiency;
• cerebrosthenia.

Some of the above complications lead to death. In order to prevent such a sad development of events, parents should timely register the child with a neurologist, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist, and also take him for regular examinations to these specialists.

Prevention

The first signs of meningitis in children should alert all parents. They, in turn, need to immediately show the child to a specialist. If we take into account the fact that the treatment of this disease is a rather long and difficult process, the prevention of the disease remains relevant. It implies timely and adequate treatment of all acute and chronic diseases of an infectious nature. Doctors also recommend meningitis vaccinations at an early age. No less important is chemoprophylaxis for everyone who has been in direct contact with a sick person. Due to the fact that the disease is mainly transmitted by airborne droplets, it is better to refrain from contact with the carrier of the infection for some time or use special respirators and gauze bandages.

Forecast for the future

Unfortunately, it is impossible to say exactly what the prognosis for a particular patient will be. According to experts, in this situation, everything depends solely on the form of the disease, the patient's condition and the timeliness of therapy. In some cases, there may be complications, which were discussed above. Unfortunately, today there is still a high level of mortality of children from this disease.

Conclusion

In this article, we talked about what constitutes a disease such as meningitis in children. Symptoms, treatment, prevention - these are just the most common issues that should be given special attention. All parents who care about the condition of their baby should be aware of this problem.

Meningitis is a rather dangerous and serious disease, from which everyone should try to protect their child. If the circumstances turned out to be more difficult, it is necessary to take all measures for the speedy recovery of a small patient, to ensure proper rehabilitation. This is the only way to avoid the development of serious complications and consequences of this disease.

The health of the child is above all! Babies have weak immune systems and are more at risk of a dangerous meningeal virus attack than others. What exactly is dangerous viral meningitis, symptoms in children, characteristic for each age, we will consider ways to determine it in the material.

In addition to direct contact with the carrier of the virus, it is possible to become infected by airborne droplets, and even through the bite of blood-sucking insects. In preschools, you can catch the virus through food or drinks, using shared utensils and toys. In the same ways, infection occurs with other infections, which can give a complication in the form of meningitis.

But not every viral attack eventually causes meningitis. Much depends on the strength of the immune system.

There are 2 forms of the virus:

Primary

The infection develops as an independent disease, and not a complication of an existing one. The virus enters the body of a healthy baby and attacks the meninges. Damage to internal organs in the primary form of the disease is minimal.

Secondary

Occurs against the background of a severely tolerated disease. Having spent all the energy resources to fight the existing disease, immunity falls, and meningitis becomes a complication of the underlying disease.

Causes and risk factors

In 85% of all recorded cases, babies get sick due to an enterovirus infection, which can be determined by analyzing the fluid of the spinal cord.

At risk (in descending order):

• children from 2 to 6 years old
• infants and adolescents
• persons of any age with an immunodeficiency state
• elderly people with chronic diseases
• newborns whose mother was ill during pregnancy

Boys get sick more often than girls. The disease in an acute form occurs annually in 10,000 people.

If it occurs in the primary form, the asymptomatic period lasts 1-2 days from the moment of the viral attack.

The secondary form of viral meningitis in children depends on the primary disease and what symptoms preceded it, so the incubation period can last from a few hours (as in the case of SARS) to one month (with chickenpox, mumps, etc.).

How to identify viral meningitis

Dr. Komarovsky says about meningitis that it is urgent to call an ambulance if:

• with any disease transmitted by an infectious way - SARS, chicken pox, etc. - an unbearable headache occurs, accompanied by constant vomiting;
• always when at a high temperature there are painful sensations in the back and neck, which increase when turning the head;
• semi-delusional state is accompanied by nausea and vomiting;
• convulsions appear (of varying intensity and duration);
• in babies up to a year there is a fever along with constant crying and bulging of the fontanel;
• any (!) rash appears against the background of heat.

A characteristic symptom of this disease is muscle rigidity - hypertonicity, which does not allow the chin to reach the chest.

To check this symptom, you need to put your hand under the head of a recumbent baby and bend his neck so that his chin touches his chest. With meningitis, he will not be able to do this.

Muscle stiffness is not tested in the presence of a very high temperature, as this may affect the presentation of a false result.

How to identify viral meningitis in children under one year old

The kid still can not explain what is bothering him. He behaves nervously and constantly cries for no apparent reason. Parents may think that the child is teething or colic in the intestines, and untimely seek medical help. And such delay is fraught with disability for life.

Symptoms in children 3-4 years old

For babies 3-4 years old, it is easier to determine meningitis - the child himself can already tell what worries him. Parents can observe light and noise fear (when irritants appear, he hides under the covers). The high temperature lasts 3-5 days, then subsides and begins to rise again.

How meningitis manifests itself in children 5-15 years old

In the age category from 5 years to adolescence, the initial signs of the disease are a sharp jump in body temperature, combined with severe vomiting. Abundant vomiting in a stream is not associated with eating unsuitable foods, but acts as an independent phenomenon. It doesn't get better after vomiting.

The headache is very bright, does not disappear after taking standard painkillers, dulls for a short time. It is aggravated by tilting and turning the head, loud sounds and bright lighting. Adolescents periodically experience disruptions in the cycle of night and day.

According to the speed of the course of the disease, they distinguish:

• lightning fast;
• sharp form;
• subacute;
• chronic.

Depending on the severity of the disease:

• light form;
• moderate;
• heavy;
• extremely heavy.

Differential diagnosis of pathology

After examining and interviewing parents, procedures are prescribed:

• Study of the cerebrospinal fluid.

When confirming the diagnosis in the cerebrospinal fluid, an increase in the level of protein is detected at a normal concentration of glucose. An increase in lymphocytes means the viral nature of the disease. After the puncture, the child becomes much better.

• Serological examination of cerebrospinal fluid in the blood.

This analysis helps to identify the virus that caused the disease and find antibodies to it.

• PCR of liquor.

Can detect viral DNA. This is the final analysis aimed at confirming or refuting a particular virus.

• Sowing liquor on a nutrient medium.

Additional tests may be prescribed by a doctor to make sure which form of the disease has overcome the baby. .

What is the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis

Bacterial differs in that it is provoked by streptococcal bacteria. This type attacks people with HIV who have undergone surgery in the abdomen and those with alcohol addiction.

This type is detected by laboratory analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment of viral meningitis is possible both in the hospital and at home.

Necessarily the hospital is shown:

• newborns;
• pregnant women;
• the elderly;
• patients with HIV.

In a standard situation, the recovery process takes 7-14 days. An infected baby is recommended bed rest in a dark room with good sound insulation. Bright light is a source of headaches.

After recovery, the baby needs about three more months for the final recovery. During this period, it is advisable not to subject it to any stress. Having recovered, the child should be registered with a neurologist for some time.

Methods of treatment and drugs

In the treatment of viral meningitis, emphasis is placed on the following tasks:

• decrease in intracranial pressure;
• detoxification;
• removal of the pathogen.

Treatment should be a combination of drug and non-drug methods.

Non-drug methods:

1. To get rid of a headache, an older child needs to starve for a couple of days (in parallel with taking an enema)
2. Wrap baby's hands and feet in a diaper soaked in cold water. Put an enema on the head with ice.
3. In the presence of convulsions, wrap the child's body for 30 minutes with a diaper moistened with warm water or vinegar. Then change into dry clothes.
4. More liquid.

Prevention measures

To prevent the occurrence of viral meningitis, the following rules should be observed:

1. From early childhood, instill in your child the habit of rinsing hands with soap before eating and after returning from the street, do not eat unwashed foods.
2. Explain to your child the possible consequences of eating from shared utensils, sharing toys, and other similar activities.
3. Ensure regular outdoor walks and sufficient physical activity.
4. Get vaccinated against viral infections and have regular check-ups.
5. Avoid self-medication of any disease.
6. Provide your child with a balanced diet and at least 10 hours of sleep a night;
7. Work on the development of the child's immunity: harden him and control his regular exercise;
8. Do not allow swimming in open water;
9. Teach your baby to drink only boiled or bottled water;
10. Avoid contact of the child with people infected with any infection

If infection does occur, inform the kindergarten or school about the disease. There will be disinfection followed by a two-week quarantine.

1. Limit contact with a sick child as much as possible;
2. Regularly ventilate the room in which the patient is located;
3. Show the pets to the veterinarian, then transport them to another territory;
4. If there are insects in the house, they must be eradicated.

Consequences and prognosis

Residual symptoms go away within six months.

If the therapy was carried out with a significant delay and / or defective, then the negative consequences will remain for life.

Possible complications:

1. intellectual impairment;
2. convulsive seizures;
3. deafness;
4. regular headache;
5. problems with coordination of movement;
6. kidney failure;
7. increased fatigue;
8. pathology of the excretory function;
9. arrhythmia;
10. neurosis;
11. arterial hypertension.

The possible consequences also depend on the age at which the child was when the virus attack occurred. Very young children may lag behind in development, have intellectual disabilities and hearing problems. Older children tolerate the disease more easily, but in the future they may develop headaches, memory problems and absent-mindedness. It all depends on the set of initial factors.

Viral meningitis is a serious disease, the outcome of which depends on the speed of treatment and the professionalism of specialists. Clearly follow all the prescriptions of doctors and do not self-medicate. Remember - the disease is easier to prevent than to cure!

Viral meningitis is a disease caused by a viral infection, which is characterized by damage to the dura mater of the brain and proceeds as a serous inflammatory process.

Causes

Viral meningitis is an infectious disease. The causative agents of this disease can be various viruses that penetrate the meninges by the perineural (through the spaces located around the nerves), lymphogenous (with lymph) or hematogenous (with blood flow) pathway. Depending on the properties of the virus, meningitis can occur through airborne or contact routes of infection.

Viral meningitis can be caused by mumps virus, arenaviruses, herpes viruses (including Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus), enterovirus infection (ECHO and Coxsackie viruses), adenoviruses and others.

Symptoms

The incubation period for viral meningitis is usually 2 to 4 days. Viral meningitis is characterized by an acute onset: body temperature rises to high numbers, intoxication syndrome and general malaise develop. Muscle pain, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain may also occur. In addition, there may be a runny nose, cough, sore throat.

Often, with viral meningitis, such disturbances of consciousness as stupor and drowsiness are observed. In some cases, on the contrary, excitement and anxiety may appear.

Viral meningitis is characterized by meningeal syndrome, which is characterized by an excruciating constant headache, which is poorly relieved by taking painkillers. In addition, it includes skin hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity), painful perception of external stimuli (sharp sounds, noise, bright lights), as well as repeated vomiting. Also, the meningeal syndrome includes rigidity (excessive tension) of the extensor group of muscles of the neck, as a result of which it is difficult to bring the chin to the chest.

Diagnostics

The presence of meningeal symptoms and characteristic complaints allows suspecting the presence of meningitis in a patient. In order to establish the viral nature of meningitis, a lumbar puncture is performed, followed by a study of the cerebrospinal fluid (the pathogen is identified by PCR).

Patients with viral meningitis can also undergo the following studies: a biochemical blood test (liver tests, blood electrolyte composition, glucose, creatinine, amylase, lipase), a clinical blood test.

In the case of an atypical course of viral meningitis or in complex controversial clinical cases, it is possible to perform electromyography, electroencephalography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

Types of disease

Depending on the pathogen, meningitis caused by viruses is distinguished:

• ECHO;
• Coxsackie types A and B;
• Epstein-Barr;
• epidemic parotitis;
• bunyaviruses;
• togaviruses;
• cytomegaloviruses;
• adenoviruses and others.

Patient's actions

In the event of the appearance of characteristic signs (in particular, meningeal symptoms), it is necessary to urgently seek medical help.

Treatment

In most cases, with viral meningitis, pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment is carried out. Antiviral therapy for viral meningitis is indicated for infants and immunocompromised patients. In the case of a severe course of the disease, glucocorticosteroids and interferon preparations are used.

With viral meningitis, the patient must be provided with bed rest and rest. It must be placed in a darkened room. Analgesics (painkillers) are used to relieve headaches. Often, the intensity of the headache decreases after performing a diagnostic lumbar puncture due to a decrease in intracranial pressure. At a body temperature above 38 ° C, antipyretics are used.

Complications

Complications of viral meningitis can be as follows: deafness, convulsive seizures, as well as the persistence of headache and other symptoms of the disease (with periodic onset and disappearance) for one to two weeks.

In general, residual effects after viral meningitis may include headache, asthenia, mild incoordination, and mild intellectual impairment (eg, memory loss, inattention, impaired concentration). However, these phenomena disappear within a few weeks (rarely - months).

Viral meningitis in infants can cause severe complications such as mental retardation and persistent hearing loss.

Prevention

An important preventive measure is the observance of personal hygiene rules, maintaining a healthy active lifestyle, as well as avoiding contact with sick people.

Meningitis is a severe infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It occurs both independently and against the background of other infectious diseases.

No one is safe from meningitis, but children under 5 years old, young people aged 16 to 25 years old and older people over 55 years old are at risk. Meningitis is severe most often in children and can lead to irreversible consequences, and in some cases to death. The disease affects the brain, therefore, with improper treatment, a person remains disabled. Most often, newborns suffer from severe consequences; in adults, meningitis is not so acute and is quickly treated.

Depending on the causes of meningitis, it can be bacterial, fungal or viral. The most complex form of the disease is bacterial meningitis. According to the type of inflammatory process, purulent and serous meningitis are distinguished. Serous meningitis is divided into two types: primary and secondary. The primary form of meningitis occurs due to low immunity and damage by various enteroviruses. The secondary form of the disease occurs after an infectious disease: measles, mumps, chickenpox and others.

Tuberculous meningitis is caused by the tubercle bacillus. Previously, this disease was not treated and the person died. Modern medicine is able to cure tuberculous meningitis, only 15-25% of all cases are fatal. Cryptococcal meningitis is a form of fungal meningitis. The process of inflammation of the brain and spinal cord is caused by the fungus Cryptococcus. Encephalitic meningitis - this type of disease begins when an encephalitis infection enters the body. It is transmitted through the bite of a tick or through the consumption of raw milk from an infected animal.

Causes of meningitis

The main cause of meningitis is viruses or bacteria that penetrate the soft membranes of the brain and spinal cord. In adults, the most common bacterial meningitis is caused by streptococcus and meningococcus bacteria. If they are in the nasal cavity or throat, the disease does not develop, but in case of infection of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, soft tissues of the brain, they provoke meningitis.

Among the causes of meningitis are other types of bacteria. This is group B streptococcus, which often affects newborns infected during or after childbirth. The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can cause meningitis in infants and the elderly. After suffering an infectious disease, a person can get meningitis, as his immunity is weakened and cannot resist bacteria. People with and are especially susceptible to this disease. Various head injuries can cause meningitis.

Ways of transmission of meningitis

A topical issue among patients is whether meningitis is transmitted by airborne droplets, like most infectious diseases. The answer to this question depends on the cause of the disease. So, if meningitis develops as a result of internal processes occurring in the brain, it is not contagious to others and is not transmitted. In the case when the disease is provoked by the penetration of a microorganism-causative agent into the membrane of the brain, meningitis is transmitted by airborne droplets.

It is characteristic that meningitis is transmitted from person to person not only in the way that is traditionally accepted when infected with infectious diseases. Infection with meningitis, in addition to airborne droplets, can be through food or through any contact with a carrier of the disease. In this case, the ways of contracting a disease such as meningitis are varied: sneezing, coughing, kissing, using common dishes, household items, staying in the same room with a sick person for a long time.

You can prevent the transmission of meningitis to a healthy person by strictly adhering to the rules for the prevention of infectious diseases and personal hygiene. This may include: wearing a medical mask in crowded places during outbreaks, avoiding prolonged exposure to public places. It also necessarily includes the complete cessation of contact with the carrier of the infection for the period of its treatment.

However, if infection nevertheless occurred, it is important to know that self-medication will not bring relief, but will only contribute to the development of complications. In order to quickly get rid of the disease of meningitis, at the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to consult a doctor. With qualified diagnosis and correct treatment, it will recede irrevocably.

Symptoms of meningitis

The symptoms of meningitis develop quickly and are easy to spot right away. The temperature rises sharply to 40 degrees, there is pain in the muscles, joints, there is general weakness and lethargy. Among the characteristic symptoms of meningitis in adults are the formation of a rash, runny nose and sore throat, as with a cold, pneumonia, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the salivary glands.

One of the most pronounced and common signs of meningitis is an acute headache that spreads to the entire area. The pain is growing and unbearable. Then nausea and severe vomiting appear. The patient does not tolerate sound and light stimuli.

Symptoms of meningitis are manifested in all patients to varying degrees. As a rule, they have a strong tension of the occipital muscles. A person feels severe pain when the head is tilted to the chest and the legs are extended at the knees. To relieve symptoms, the patient lies in a certain position. The person lies on his side, throwing his head back strongly, presses his hands to his chest, and bends his legs at the knees and presses him to his stomach.

Symptoms of meningitis in children are the same as in adults, but there may be additional signs of the disease. Among them are: diarrhea and regurgitation of food, drowsiness, apathy and weakness, constant crying and loss of appetite, swelling in the fontanel. Meningitis develops rapidly, at the first sign you can not hesitate and immediately go to the hospital. The incubation period of the disease is 2 to 10 days. The signs of meningitis are very similar to the usual or. The rate of development of the disease depends on the level of immunity of the child: the lower it is, the faster it affects the body.

One day after the onset of the first symptoms, the person's condition becomes critical. The patient may become delusional, there is apathy and drowsiness, irritability. The swelling of the tissues of the meninges begins, which makes it difficult for blood to flow to the organs and tissues, as in a stroke. With untimely help, a person falls into a coma and quickly dies.

Aseptic meningitis

Aseptic meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, provoked in the human body, most often by a viral type pathogen. This disease can develop in patients of all age categories.

Usually, a disease such as aseptic meningitis is diagnosed and treated fairly quickly. However, for the timely diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary to know and understand the causes of the disease and the signs of its manifestation. This is what will be discussed in this article.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The main cause of aseptic meningitis in the human body is the causative microorganism. In this case, a virus (enterovirus) acts as the causative agent of the disease.

The penetration of the virus into the human body is carried out by the traditional, airborne or food way upon contact with the carrier. Then, penetrating through the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract or upper respiratory tract and palatine tonsils into the blood, enteroviruses spread throughout the body. With a weakened protective reaction of the body, pathogens transported by the circulatory system penetrate the membranes of the brain or spinal cord and provoke the development of the disease.

As mentioned above, enteroviruses are the cause of the disease in most cases. As for the causes that, in addition to viral microorganisms, lead to aseptic meningitis, then, by nature of origin, they can be divided into two categories - infectious and non-infectious.

As for non-infectious causes of the disease, these include previously suffered injuries or diseases, due to which aseptic meningitis may develop. These include: infectious diseases, inflammatory processes, tumors, concussions and injuries, exposure to chemotherapy drugs.

A feature of the aseptic type of the disease is, in particular, that the bacteria and viruses that provoked the disease are extremely difficult to detect by conventional methods. This presents some difficulty, but is not an unsolvable problem. Rather, on the contrary, it narrows the range of possible diseases for diagnosis.

Signs of aseptic meningitis

Symptoms of a disease such as aseptic meningitis appear quite clearly and are the first persistent signal that you should immediately consult a doctor. It is extremely important to remember that such a dangerous and fraught disease must be treated in the early stages. And for this you need to respond in a timely manner to the signs manifested by the disease.

First of all, you should pay attention to the general indicators of the state of health. Usually, they are subject to the following changes:

• a significant and rapid increase in temperature;
• state of fever, chills;
• throbbing headache.

More specific signs, characteristic of other types of meningitis, in the aseptic form appear rather weakly and develop at a slow pace. But, nevertheless, their presence can be traced.

The main symptom of the development of any form of meningitis is meningeal syndrome. It manifests itself if the patient laid on his back cannot tilt his head to his chest without bending his knees. Moreover, the bending of the legs occurs uncontrollably.

The danger of this type of disease lies precisely in the fact that the specific signs of meningitis appear 4-5 days after the onset of the disease, which can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, in the presence of high fever, mild meningeal syndrome, headache and fever, one should not wait for further symptomatic confirmation.

Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is an infectious disease, expressed in inflammation of the tissues of the spinal cord and brain, and provoked in the body by bacteria of the streptococcal group. The prevalence of this disease is quite insignificant, but the disease can easily be transmitted from person to person and cause epidemics among the population.

This type of disease has its own characteristics of occurrence (causes), symptoms, manifestations and methods of treatment, different from other forms of meningitis. This is exactly what will be discussed in this article.

In addition to the genetic predisposition of some peoples to develop meningitis, there are also reasons why this disease can affect the body of each patient. These include the state of health and age of the patient, as well as external pathogens.

Bacterial meningitis, like any other form of this disease, is provoked in the human body when the pathogen enters it. In the case of the form of the disease discussed in this article, the role of such a pathogen is played by harmful bacteria of the streptococcal group.

Bacterial meningitis is transmitted, like any infectious disease, by traditional, airborne or foodborne routes. This happens, as a rule, upon contact with the carrier of the infection through a handshake, kiss, sneezing or common utensils and household items, which by itself suggests the need for strict adherence to personal hygiene rules.

The penetration of streptococcus bacteria into the body does not end the process of infection and the development of the disease. Moreover, once transmission has taken place, there are two scenarios: meningitis and no meningitis.

The fact is that for the development of the disease, appropriate conditions are needed. In the case of meningitis, these are: a weakened immune system and a through reaction of the body. Only with such additional factors, harmful bacteria-causative agents of the disease penetrate the bloodstream and are transported to the brain. Therefore, in the presence of chronic diseases, bad habits, or a course of therapies that adversely affect immunity, the chance of getting meningitis increases significantly. This also explains the high susceptibility of younger patients to the disease.

Amoebic (encephalitic) meningitis

Amoebic or encephalitic meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the meninges, which is provoked by small free-living amoebae, often enough for a long period of time, that live in the human body.

The disease usually affects younger patients, putting children, adolescents, and adults under the age of 30 at risk. Encephalitic meningitis has different causes of development, symptoms and signs of manifestation, as well as methods of treatment and consequences, different from other forms of the disease. A detailed discussion of each of these factors will be provided in this article.

With a weakened protective reaction of the body, harmful microorganisms easily penetrate into the blood, and then, transported through the circulatory system, reach the central nervous system, namely, the membranes of the brain. After this, amoebic meningitis begins to develop and the first signs of the disease appear.

Purulent meningitis

Purulent meningitis is an infectious inflammation of the membranes of the brain, accompanied by the formation and release of purulent masses. This disease can occur in patients belonging to any age category. Often purulent meningitis occurs in children.

In order to understand how to deal with this disease, you need to know and be able to identify its symptoms. The described form of the disease has its own characteristics of manifestation, causes of development and methods of treatment. It is about them that will be discussed in this article.

The causes of a disease such as purulent meningitis are the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the membranes of the brain. The causative agents in this situation are usually harmful bacteria. These include streptococci, pneumococci, staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other pathogens. Most often, it is staphylococci that take part in the development of the disease, which is why this meningitis is often called staphylococcal.

As for how purulent meningitis is transmitted, there are several stages. The entry of the microorganism-causative agent of the disease into the human body, most often, occurs in the traditional airborne or food way.

Infection can occur through any contact with a carrier of the infection. Coughing or sneezing, shaking hands, or sharing common utensils is enough to transmit harmful bacteria.

Then, penetrating through the tissues of the upper respiratory tract or stomach, harmful bacteria enter the bloodstream. And the causative agent of meningitis gets to the membranes of the brain by the hematogenous route, transported by the circulatory system. Then, after entering the tissues of the meninges, the development of the disease begins.

A special characteristic of this disease is that its development, and in itself the penetration of bacteria into the blood, is possible only with a weakened immune system. Then the disease progresses quickly and without obstacles. This fact also explains the fact that the disease so often affects the child's body, whose immunity is not yet fully developed.

Tuberculous meningitis

Tuberculous meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges that occurs as a secondary disease after tuberculosis. This form of the disease is quite rare and, in most cases, in people with or recovering from tuberculosis.

The cause of such a disease as tuberculous meningitis is the spread of harmful pathogens from the focus of inflammation in the respiratory system to the brain. As mentioned above, most often, this type of disease is secondary, against the background of the development of tuberculosis. The main causative agent of both diseases are acid-fast bacteria, or, in other words, tuberculosis microbacteria.

Tuberculous meningitis is transmitted, like tuberculosis itself, by airborne droplets or food contact with a carrier of the infection. In the case of the spread of this disease, the carrier of dangerous microbacteria of tuberculosis can be people, animals and even birds.

It is also characteristic that when harmful microorganisms enter the body of a healthy person, whose immune system works well, tuberculosis bacteria are almost always destroyed. Therefore, as conditions necessary for the full development of the disease, weakened immunity, a low rate of the body's defense reaction are implied. It is a poorly developed immune system that is the reason that tuberculous meningitis manifests itself in children.

First of all, when it enters the respiratory organs, the disease is localized in them. Then, penetrating into the blood, tuberculosis microbacteria are transported by the circulatory system to the meninges. Just from this moment, the development of a secondary disease called tuberculous meningitis begins.

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, which is provoked by the ingestion of a virus-causative agent of the disease into the human body. This disease can affect quite extensive, in terms of age categories, groups of patients, and is quite dangerous. Viral meningitis is most common in children.

This disease is one of the most curable forms of meningitis, but it also has its dangers. In order to clearly understand all the features and deterioration of this disease, you need to know the features of its manifestation, the causes of development, as well as the features of the course and treatment.

The main cause of this disease, as mentioned above, is a virus that causes a disease in the child's body. The entry of this provocateur into the child's body, as with any other infectious disease, occurs by airborne droplets or food through contact with the carrier of the infection.

A feature of the further development of the disease is that during the normal functioning of the immune system, this virus may not provoke serious disruption of work, and even be destroyed. That is why viral meningitis so often affects children. The immunity of the child's body is not fully developed and cannot cope with the virus of this disease.

Thanks to such conditions, the causative agent of meningitis penetrates into the blood and, through the blood vessels, reaches the central nervous system. After reaching the brain, the virus contributes to the development of inflammation of its membranes.

Serous meningitis

Serous meningitis is an infectious disease characterized by the manifestation of a serous inflammatory process in the tissues of the membrane of the brain and spinal cord. This disease is most susceptible to children of preschool and school age, which is why the question of how serous meningitis manifests itself in children is relevant for all parents.

This disease is dangerous and extremely quickly transmitted from person to person. Therefore, every adult needs to know and understand what can provoke meningitis, what are the symptoms of its manifestation and the features of the course, as well as methods of treatment.

The cause of serous meningitis is the penetration of a microorganism-causative agent of the disease into the human body. Such microorganisms can be viruses, bacteria or fungi. However, due to the fact that in more than 80% of cases, it is viruses that provoke the disease, it is often called, especially when manifested in children, as serous viral meningitis.

Most often, this disease occurs due to enteroviruses entering the body. This also explains the fact that serous meningitis often occurs as a secondary disease as one of the viral diseases (measles, syphilis, AIDS, etc.).

It has been established that enterovirus can enter the child's body in two main ways: airborne and waterborne. Airborne transmission of infection from a carrier to a healthy person is the traditional route for this kind of disease. With any contact with a sick person (whether with a child or an adult), the disease virus enters the child's body: hugs, coughs, sneezes, kisses, common utensils, household items (toys).

As for the water route of transmission of the disease, in this case we are talking about a high content of harmful microorganisms in water bodies in summer. This explains the periodic epidemics of diseases in the warm season.

Getting into the child's body with still weak immunity, the virus of the disease freely penetrates through the skin and mucous membranes into the blood. Then, transported by the blood circulation, the pathogen reaches the lining of the brain. And after that, the development of serous meningitis begins.

infectious meningitis

Infectious meningitis is a dangerous inflammatory disease that affects the tissues of the spinal cord and brain. As a primary infectious disease, meningitis is provoked by various microorganisms, which explains the diversity in the course of the disease, the expression of symptoms and treatment.

This type of disease can be easily transmitted from person to person and can affect patients of different ages and both sexes equally. Infectious meningitis has its own characteristics of occurrence (causes), symptoms, manifestations and methods of treatment, different from other forms of meningitis. This is exactly what will be discussed in this article.

The main reason why a disease such as infectious meningitis develops in the human body is the penetration of a pathogen into it. Moreover, the role of such a pathogen, in this case, can be played by harmful viruses, bacteria or even a fungus.

Infectious meningitis, like any disease of this type, is transmitted by traditional, airborne or foodborne routes. This happens, as a rule, upon contact with the carrier of the infection through a handshake, kiss, sneezing or common utensils and household items, which by itself suggests the need for strict adherence to personal hygiene rules. In this regard, the way the infection of a disease called meningitis is transmitted to another person is not much different from other diseases.

The peculiarity of the development of the disease is that the infection process is not limited to the fact of penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the body. Moreover, with the normal functioning of the body's defense system, meningitis may not occur.

Cryptococcal meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis (cryptococcosis) is an inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the brain, which has a fungal nature of development. This disease has no age limits in the defeat of patients, therefore it is equally dangerous for all age groups of patients.

For timely diagnosis and treatment, as well as in order to prevent the development of the disease, it is worth knowing and understanding what are the causes, symptoms and features of the course of the disease. A description of all the described parameters can be found in this article.

As mentioned above, cryptococcal meningitis has a fungal nature of development. And, therefore, as with other infectious diseases, the cause of this disease in the patient's body is the pathogen microorganism. In this case, fungus.

The penetration of the microorganism-causative agent into the tissue of the brain membrane occurs in the standard way for this disease. The fungus enters the surface of the palatine tonsils and upper respiratory tract by airborne droplets or food. Then, under the condition of reduced work of the body's defense systems, the pathogen enters the bloodstream and, thanks to the well-functioning work of the circulatory system, moves to the brain tissue.

A distinctive feature of the occurrence of cryptococcosis is that, as an independent disease, it is extremely rare. All diseases of the nervous system of the body that have a fungal nature of development usually develop in people who have already had diseases that have weakened their immunity, including those with hemoblastoses, diabetes mellitus, AIDS, and malignant tumors. A disease such as cryptococcosis is a fairly common case after prolonged therapies using antibacterial, corticosteroid, immunosuppressive drugs.

Symptoms of the development of the disease

Symptoms of a disease such as cryptococcosis are extremely difficult to identify. This is due to the parallel or subsequent development of meningitis after another disease. Therefore, in order to track an additionally developing disease, it is periodically recommended to conduct diagnostics for inflammation of the meninges during the course of the underlying disease.

Symptoms of a disease such as cryptococcal meningitis can be divided into two categories: general infectious and specific meningeal. At the same time, signs common to all infectious diseases can easily be lost against the background of the underlying ailment, which cannot be said about specific ones.

General infectious signs of this type of meningitis are usually chronic. These include:

• an increase in temperature by several marks (up to 37.8-38? C);
• fever state.

Against the background of a constantly elevated, albeit slightly, body temperature, diseases of the respiratory tract, ears, and oral cavity can develop. Therefore, a prolonged change in body temperature should serve as a signal that meningitis is developing in the body. In combination with the specific signs of the disease, you can get a good reason for a preliminary diagnosis.

As for the specific symptoms of the disease, they include the usual signs of brain damage. Their list includes:

• intense throbbing headache;
• dizziness;
• nausea and vomiting not associated with meals;
• photophobia and sound phobia;
• soreness of the neck muscles;

The main symptom indicating the development of meningitis in the patient's body is meningeal syndrome. Its manifestation lies in the fact that the patient's legs will involuntarily bend at the knees, if he, when taking a horizontal position, tilt his head to the chest.

Meningitis in babies

In newborns, this disease is quite rare. The incidence of meningitis in infants ranges from 0.02% to 0.2%, depending on the weight of the newborn and his state of health.

It is extremely important for the parents of the baby to know the causes of the disease, to be able to recognize its symptoms and understand the features of treatment, in order to know how to behave when meningitis is manifested in the baby. All of these issues will be discussed in this article.

Symptoms of meningitis in newborns

There is a set of signs of the development of the disease that can occur in both infants and adult patients. However, due to the fact that a newborn child cannot show or tell that he is in pain, in this case, it is worth paying attention to a larger range of factors. So, the symptoms of a disease such as meningitis in infants will manifest themselves as follows:

• a significant increase in temperature;
• state of fever, chills;
• convulsions and twitches;
• increase and pulsation of the fontanel;
• diarrhea;
• nausea and profuse vomiting;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• a state of general weakness of the body.

Signs of meningitis in infants are also reflected in the behavior of the child. A newborn baby, due to a severe headache, due to inflammation, is very excited, restless, the state of irritation is replaced by drowsiness. An experienced parent will be able to notice that the complex of the symptoms of the disease listed above can be inherent in any ailment of an infectious nature. That is why for the accurate diagnosis of the disease, there are specific signs of the disease.

meningeal syndrome

Meningeal syndrome is the main specific symptom that determines the presence of the inflammatory disease meningitis in the meninges. The peculiarity of its manifestation is that if you try to tilt the patient's head to the chest while he is in a horizontal position, his legs will bend uncontrollably at the knees. This test is good for both children and adults.

Symptoms of Lesage

Due to the fact that in newborns the symptoms of a disease such as meningitis are very mild, an examination of the fontanel (unfused skull bones) is performed to confirm suspicions. When meningitis occurs, this area becomes inflamed and pulsates.

Lesage's symptom is also called the pose of the pointing dog. Its essence lies in the fact that when the baby is held by the armpit area, he involuntarily pulls his legs to his stomach and throws his head back.

Causes

Infection of a newborn child usually occurs in a way that has become traditional for this type of disease. We are talking about the transmission of pathogens by airborne droplets from the carrier of the infection, which can be adults or the same small children.

Treatment of meningitis

Diagnosing meningitis is fairly easy, but the diagnosis must be confirmed by a doctor. Since the disease develops rapidly, you can not hesitate even a minute. Treatment of meningitis is carried out only under the supervision of doctors in the hospital, it cannot be treated at home. To confirm the disease, as well as to determine the pathogen, the patient undergoes a spinal puncture. With timely access to a doctor, meningitis is well treated and does not give complications. The methods of treatment of meningitis include several drugs and vaccines to eliminate the pathogen:

• The main treatment for meningitis is antibiotic therapy. At the first symptoms of the disease, broad-spectrum antibiotics from the group of penicillins, cephalosporins and macrolides are immediately used. Broad-spectrum drugs are prescribed to immediately eliminate the pathogen. The results of the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid will not be ready immediately, and it is almost impossible to determine the causative agent of meningitis in a blood test. Antibiotics are administered to the patient intravenously, and in severe forms of the disease, drugs can be injected into the spinal canal. The duration of the course of antibiotic treatment is determined by the doctor, but the patient will receive medication for at least a week after his normal temperature stabilizes.
• Diuretics may be used in the treatment of meningitis. When using diuretics, fluid is simultaneously injected into the patient's body. Diuretics contribute to a strong leaching of calcium from the body, so the patient is prescribed a vitamin complex.
• With meningitis, detoxification therapy is used. It is necessary to reduce the symptoms of intoxication. The patient is injected intravenously with saline, glucose solution and other drugs.

The duration of treatment for meningitis varies and depends on the degree of development of the disease, the patient's condition. In children, this disease can give various complications, in adults it is quickly treated without consequences. After completion of therapy in the hospital, it is necessary to continue treatment at home, to strengthen the immune system. The patient can restore health within one year, so it is not always possible to return to work or school.

Prevention of meningitis

Preventive measures for meningitis primarily include mandatory vaccination. Vaccination will help prevent the development of many diseases that lead to meningitis. Vaccination should be given to children at an early age. Bacterial and viral meningitis vaccines include vaccinations against Haemophilus influenzae type B, against infections that cause pneumonia and other diseases. Vaccination should be carried out for a child aged 2 months to 5 years, as well as for children over 5 years old who suffer from serious illnesses. Before the invention of the vaccine, bacteria were thought to be the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, but vaccines have been able to eradicate it.

Meningococcal vaccination can protect against the main bacteria that cause meningitis. It must be done to a child aged 11-12 years. This type of vaccination should be given to students living in a dormitory, recruit soldiers, immunodeficient patients, as well as tourists and workers traveling to countries where a meningitis epidemic can break out, for example, countries in Africa. It is necessary to carry out mandatory vaccination against other infectious diseases:, and others.

Other measures to prevent meningitis include maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness:

• exclusion of contact with people with meningitis;
• after contact with an infected person, it is necessary to receive a preventive course of medication;
• wear a disposable medical mask during epidemics of influenza and other infectious diseases;
• wash hands before eating, after transport and public places, use antibacterial agents;
• do not drink raw water, process vegetables and fruits with boiling water, boil milk;
• avoid swimming in stagnant water;
• strengthen the immunity of the child from an early age.

Consequences of the disease

Meningitis is dangerous because its untimely or incorrect treatment can lead to serious complications that will remind of themselves for many years. Moreover, it does not matter at what age the disease was transferred. The consequences after meningitis are manifested in both adults and children.

In older patients, the list describing the complications after meningitis includes: regular headaches, hearing loss, significant visual impairment, epileptic seizures, and many other deteriorations in the functioning of the body that can haunt the patient from several months to several years.

As for the consequences of meningitis for children, then, in this case, the situation is even more dangerous. If the disease occurs in the first years of a child's life, the probability of death is very high. If the disease was defeated, then it can cause mental retardation, disruption of the basic functions of the brain and the entire nervous system of the child's body.

Moreover, the threat of a fatal outcome of the disease exists not only for children. As an answer to the question of whether it is possible to die from meningitis, let's talk about one of its most serious complications. We are talking about .

This complication is more common in younger patients, but not infrequently in adults. With the onset of this complication of an infectious disease, meningitis, the patient's blood pressure and heart rate begin to change dramatically, shortness of breath increases and pulmonary edema develops. The result of this process is paralysis of the respiratory tract. What are the consequences after such a complication of meningitis, it is not difficult to guess - the death of the patient.

Another complication called toxic shock leads to the same consequences. Without going to the doctors at the first manifestations of the disease, it is impossible to cope with the complications of the disease.

If we talk about the general list, then the consequences of meningitis affect the health of men, women and children. This indicates the urgent need for correct treatment and proper rehabilitation after illness.

The most common consequences of meningitis include: disruption of the nervous system, mental disorders, dropsy (excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain), hormonal dysfunctions and others. This disease, even in the process of treatment, can have a negative effect on the body. With the introduction of drugs, blood pressure is significantly reduced, the work of the urinary system worsens, calcium is washed out of the bones.

It is important to know and always remember that timely diagnosis and correct treatment can save not only the health of the patient, but also his life. Therefore, in order to avoid consequences that pose a real threat to life, at the first symptoms of the disease, you need to consult a doctor.