2023-12-18 10:00:53
meningitis
Meningitis It is a disease that occurs when the membranes of the brain become inflamed. by the brain membrane It is the outer layer of tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is most often caused by bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections, as well as other non-infectious causes. Symptoms of meningitis include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. If meningitis is suspected, You should get treatment immediately.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis occurs when the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord become infected. The meninges function to support and protect the brain and spinal cord from injury. The meninges contain blood vessels, nerves, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What are the causes of meningitis?
- Infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria that spread from person to person.
- Other causes that are not infectious include cancer or head injury.
Meningitis can also cause severe and painful symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that you see a doctor immediately if you have symptoms. Don’t let it go until symptoms get worse.
What are the types of meningitis?
Each type of meningitis is named after its cause or how long symptoms last. Each type of meningitis includes:
- Viral Meningitis This type of meningitis is usually mild and resolves on its own.
- Bacterial Meningitis
- Fungal Meningitis
- Parasitic Meningitis
- Meningitis caused by amoeba or brain-eating amoeba (Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis or PAM) It is a rare disease. Caused by the brain-eating amoeba genus Naegleria (Naegleria fowleri).
- Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (Drug-induced Aseptic Meningitis or DIAM) Certain medications cause this type of meningitis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and antibiotics are the most common causes.
- Chronic Meningitis When meningitis lasts 1 month or longer It is called chronic meningitis.
- Acute meningitis (Acute Meningitis) This type of meningitis comes with symptoms that are severe and occur suddenly.
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
The first symptoms of meningitis are similar to the flu. Symptoms will appear within a few hours or a few days. and will deteriorate quickly. Symptoms in young children are different from those in children and adults.
Symptoms of meningitis in young children namely
- The crown of the head bulges out.
- Sluggish because of lack of energy
- Feeling sleepy or not waking up often
- Refusing to eat or suckle
- Crying non-stop
- vomit
Symptoms in children or adults include:
- Sudden high fever
- wordlessly
- severe headache
- nausea vomiting
- whip
- Confused, dazed, unable to concentrate
- Sleepy or difficult to wake up
- Allergic to light
- no appetite
- In some cases, a rash will appear, such as in meningococcal meningitis.
Complications of meningitis
Complications of meningitis can occur if the patient does not receive treatment. The longer you leave it on, The greater the risk of these complications.
- Blood pressure drop
- Having trouble walking
- learning disabilities
- hearing loss
- have memory problems
- whip
- Kidney failure
- brain injury
- Died
meningitis What is the cause?
Meningitis causes include both infectious and non-infectious conditions. Most infectious diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and Naegleria fowleri. Non-infectious causes include diseases caused by inflammation throughout the body. certain drugs or cancer and chemical reactions Each type of meningitis has different causes. It can be divided as follows:
Causes of bacterial meningitis
- E. coli
- Group B Streptococcus
- Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis)
- Streptococcus Pneumoniae (Streptococcus Pneumoniae)
- Listeria Monocytogenes (Listeria Monocytogenes)
- Haemophilus bacteria Haemophilus Influenzae
- Neisseria meningitides
Causes of viral meningitis
- mumps
- lymphocytic virus Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus
- Non-polio Enteroviruses
- Herpes virus (Herpesviruses)
- Rubella (Measles)
- Arboviruses such as West Nile Virus
- Influenza virus (Influenza)
Fungal causes of meningitis
- Coccidia fungus (Coccidioides)
Causes of parasitic meningitis
- Rat lungworm or snail worm (Angiostrongylus Cantonensis)
- Raccoon parasite (Baylisascaris Procyonis)
- Gnathostoma Spinigerum
Causes of amoeba meningitis
- Naegleria amoeba (Naegleria fowleri)
Non-infectious causes of meningitis
- Autoimmune disease or lupus (Systemic lupus erythematosus, Lupus)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics
- head injury
- brain surgery
- certain types of cancer
- chemical reaction
Risk factors that may cause meningitis
Factors that increase your risk of developing meningitis include:
- age: Bacterial meningitis is more common in people younger than 20 years of age, and nearly 70 percent of cases occur in children under five.
- Living in crowded areas: The bacteria that causes meningitis spread more easily in crowded areas.
- Not fully vaccinated against meningitis: People who have not received all the vaccines according to the schedule they should have received as children and adults. May be at greater risk of meningitis.
- Pregnancy: Pregnancy increases your risk of infection that causes meningitis.
- Weak immunity: AIDS, diabetes, alcoholism And immunosuppressive drugs can cause a decrease in immune function. This increases the risk of meningitis.
Diagnosis of meningitis
In diagnosing meningitis The doctor will take a history, perform a physical examination, and perform various diagnostic tests. During the examination The doctor may check for infections in the ears, head, neck, and skin along the spine.
Tests that doctors often use to diagnose meningitis include:
- Blood tests and blood cultures Blood tests can be used to detect infection. While the blood culture A blood sample is taken and grown in a petri dish to see if bacteria will grow. The blood sample may also be studied under a microscope to check for bacteria.
- Medical radiology techniques Doctors use Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to look for swelling or inflammation in the head. Additionally, chest or sinus scans may help reveal an infection. Infections related to meningitis
- Cerebrospinal fluid puncture This method involves inserting a needle into the spinal canal. which is located in the lower back Then a sample of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid is taken to check for infection or bacteria. The cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid that resides in the brain and spinal cord.
If the doctor suspects that the patient has viral meningitis An examination technique called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification) which is a method of DNA testing Another option is to test for antibodies to certain viruses. This helps the doctor identify the cause of the disease and select the appropriate treatment.
meningitis What is the treatment?
Each type of meningitis is treated in different ways. Timely treatment will help meningitis patients to recover well. Even though the symptoms are severe
Treatment of bacterial meningitis
The treatment for bacterial meningitis is intravenous antibiotics. In addition to antibiotics In some patients Doctors may prescribe corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, to relieve inflammation caused by bacteria. Patients with acute symptoms may need corticosteroids or Urgent intravenous antibiotics This will help with recovery. and reduce the risk of complications
Disease treatmentviral meningitis
In most cases, meningitis gets better on its own in a few weeks. Patients with mild symptoms may do the following to help symptoms heal faster.
- rest a lot
- Drink lots of water
- Take painkillers to relieve pain or reduce fever.
Remember that antibiotics do not treat viral meningitis. Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the brain. and prescribed medication to control seizures For people with meningitis from the herpes virus or influenza virus You may be given antiviral medicine to take.
Other types of meningitis
for chronic meningitis Treatment methods are determined according to the cause of the disease. While antiviral medicines can help treat fungal meningitis, In some cases, treatment may not be necessary. Because the symptoms will go away on their own. For meninges associated with cancer Doctors will treat that type of cancer and for meningitis caused by allergies or autoimmune diseases. Your doctor may treat you with corticosteroids or other immune-suppressing drugs.
How to prevent meningitis
Follow these guidelines to prevent infections that cause meningitis.
- Wash your hands thoroughly. Washing your hands helps prevent the spread of germs that cause meningitis.
- Practice good hygiene. Do not share food or drinks with anyone. And do not share personal items with others, such as cutlery, toothbrushes, or lip balm.
- Maintain health Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly and eat nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains These methods will help strengthen your immune system.
- Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing. You should cover your mouth and nose to reduce the spread of germs.
- Avoid eating certain types of food.As advised by your doctor, especially when pregnant. Cook or freeze food at a safe temperature. Avoid consuming milk that has not been pasteurized. or cheese made from unpasteurized milk
Meningitis vaccine injection
In addition to the above methods Vaccination also helps protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis. Examples of vaccines that help prevent bacterial infections Which causes bacterial meningitis include:
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) vaccine: World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC) recommends that children receive this type of vaccine starting at age 2 months, as well as adults with sickle cell anemia (Sickle Cell Anemia), AIDS, or people who lack a spleen.
- Conjugated pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) or PCV13 and PCV15 vaccines: The CDC has designated this vaccine as the vaccine that children under 2 years of age should receive. by children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are at high risk for pneumococcal disease Including people with chronic heart, lung and heart disease. and cancer You should get more vaccines. Including those over 60 years of age should also receive the vaccine.
- Polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine) or PPSV23 vaccine: This type of vaccine is suitable for adults and older children who need a pneumococcal vaccine. The CDC recommends that people who should receive this type of vaccine include adults 60 years of age and older, teenagers and children 2 years of age and older. Have a weak immune system or have a chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, or sickle cell disease. Including people who don’t have a spleen.
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine) or MenACWY Vaccine: The CDC recommends that children ages 11 – 12 receive one dose of this type of vaccine and then get a booster shot when they’re 16 years old. If the first dose is given between 13 -15 years old, they should get a booster shot between 16 – 18 years old. Children 16 years and older do not need to receive a booster needle. Additionally, children between 2 months and 10 years of age are at higher risk of bacterial meningitis. or close contact with someone who has that disease Including adults who are at risk, such as having AIDS, living in crowded places such as dormitories or military lines.
- Serogroup B Meningococcal vaccine or MenB vaccine: The CDC recommends that adults and children ages 10 and older who are at risk for meningococcal disease receive this type of vaccine. This includes adults and children with sickle cell anemia. Had my spleen removed or those who do not have a spleen
Prepare before seeing the doctor
This is because patients may have severe complications following meningitis. Therefore, you should see a doctor immediately if you suspect any type of meningitis. Not sure if your symptoms are symptoms of meningitis? Try doing the following to prepare yourself before seeing the doctor.
- Ask about what you should or shouldn’t do before and after seeing the doctor.
- Write down the symptoms you have.
- Write down important personal details, such as recent activities. Where did you go on your last holiday? Or have you played with animals?
- Write down the names of the medicines you take.
- Take a family member or friend with you to the hospital. To help you remember important details and be there for you when needed.
- Write down questions you want to ask your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
- Can meningitis be tested at home?
There is currently no way to test for meningitis at home. Therefore, you should see a medical professional if you have any questions in order to receive a timely and accurate diagnosis of this disease.
Advice from doctors at Medpark Hospital
Although meningitis is a rare disease, But the severity increases over a short period of time. Timely treatment increases the chances of full recovery. It is recommended that you seek treatment immediately if you develop symptoms.
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