2024-03-18 14:30:00
Meningitis is a acute meningeal infection, that is to say membranes enveloping the brain. There are different types of meningitis:
THE viral meningitis which are generally benign and heal without following-effects; bacterial meningitis linked to different bacterial infectious agents such as pneumococcus, Hæmophilus influenzae or even meningococcus.
Although it affects subjects of all ages, babies and young children are particularly at risk of the disease.
” THE meningitis of bacterial origin can be graves, and the species responsible for acute meningitis vary depending on age. At the new bornthe dreaded bacteria are streptococci from group B”, confirms the Pasteur Institute (source 1). “In young children, up to 5 years old, the three main species involved are Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
Transmission: how do you catch meningitis?
The transmission is done by the nasopharyngeal secretions during direct and repeated contact and it is favored in the family home or community living conditions (boarding school, etc.). There incubation period varies from 2 to 10 days (average 3-4 days).
If the viral meningitis are not very contagious and generally benign, bacterial meningitisThey are systematically declared to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) due to their high contagiousness. Prophylactic treatment with antibiotics must be prescribed in contact cases.
Antibiotic prophylaxis to avoid contagion in cases of meningococcal meningitis
“In all cases of meningococcal infections, theantibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for those close to you, which prevents contagion between individuals,” confirms the Pasteur Institute. This can also be supplemented by the vaccination in order to protect people who have had close and repeated contact with the patient.
How does meningeal syndrome begin in babies?
Meningitis manifests itself as a meningeal syndrome, a set of symptoms reflecting inflammation of the meninges.
Bacterial meningitis: symptoms more severe than viral meningitis
If the symptoms are common to both types of meningitis, the clinical signs are generally much more severe in the bacterial forms :
Nausea or vomiting (sometimes vomiting); Severe headache;Fever associated; Pain or neck stiffness ;Discomfort to light; Severe fatigue; Confusion; Abnormal drowsiness.
The child can sometimes put himself in an analgesic (pain-relieving) dog position. In young children and infants, these signs may be inconsistent. In most cases there is a fever, an altered general condition, and the fontanel, if it is still present, is bulging, specifies Dr. Thomas Dailland, pediatrician.
Please note: “newborns and children under 12 months rarely have a stiff neck. (a common symptom in older children) and are unable to communicate specific discomfort,” states an article in the MSD Manual (source 2). This is why it is important to pay attention to the other signs mentioned above.
The presence of purpura fulminans is a life-threatening emergency
In rare cases, a pimple rash can occur in babies. “If the pimples do not go away when pressed or if the spots on the skin take the form ofhematomasit may be a lightning purple, continues the pediatrician. It is a emergency vital and it is necessary immediately call 15 or 112 ».
How to diagnose meningitis in babies?
If meningitis is suspected following clinical examination, a hospitalisation will be necessary in order to take stock and carry out a lumbar puncture. This dreaded examination allows the liquid to be analyzed cerebrospinal and confirm the diagnosis.
Lumbar puncture in young children
Often a source of concern both for the young patient and for their parents, the lumbar puncture is a common procedure in pediatrics. “It looks a bit like an epidural,” reassures Dr. Thomas Dailland. “A pain patch is applied to the skin, in the lower back, before performing the procedure to anesthetize the area. Sometimes, inhalation of a MEOPA type gas through a mask can also be offered in order to soothe the child and relax him. A thin needle is inserted between two vertebrae. The puncture recovers a colorless liquid called cerebrospinal fluid. This will then be sent for analysis in search of the responsible infectious agent.”
Depending on the case, other examinations may also prove useful. (blood tests, antibiogram, scanner, brain MRI, etc.).
Bacterial meningitis in babies: what are the complications?
In case of suspicion of a bacterial meningitis, antibiotic treatment should be started as quickly as possible in order to limit complications, among :
Epileptic seizure; Coma; Dissemination of the infection throughout the body (septic shock) with purpura fulminans which is the most serious complication.
After-effects are also possible:
At the level ofaudition (hearing loss), vue (loss of vision),speech ;Of the learning difficulties;A paralysisor even a necrosis of the hands or feet sometimes requiring amputation, can also be observed.
Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, bacterial meningitis is fatal in10% of cases and almosta third of patients present following-effects following bacterial meningitis.
Today, a certain proportion of meningitis of bacterial origin – those with a poorer prognosis – can fortunately be prevented by vaccination.
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