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Meningitis
Medical Questions » Meningitis
| Name: Meningitis |
| Also known as: |
| Viral (aseptic) or bacterial (septic) infection of the meninges, membranes which wrap all the way around the brain and act to contain the cerebrospinal fluid in which the brain is supported. |
Causes of Meningitis
Viral (aseptic) meningitis: a relatively benign condition that may be caught by close contact with someone who has a viral infection, or it may be a complication of diseases such as mumps, glandular fever and Herpes. Bacterial (septic) meningitis: caught from people who are carriers of the bacteria, but the victims are usually weak, ill, under stress or have their ability to resist infection reduced in some way. The most common forms of bacterial meningitis is caused by Hemophiliacs influenza B (HiB), while the most serious is Meningococcal meningitis (caused by Neisseria meningitidis). |
Symptoms of Meningitis
Viral meningitis: fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, tiredness and sometimes muscle weakness or paralysis. Neck stiffness may be present. Bacterial meningitis: a much more serious condition, with the severity and symptoms varying depending upon which type of bacteria is responsible. Common symptoms include severe headaches, vomiting, confusion, high fevers, patients become delirious, unconscious and may convulse. Neck stiffness is quite obvious, and patients may lie with their neck constantly extended as though they are looking up. Meningococcal meningitis is accompanied by a bruise-like rash on the skin and inside the mouth. |
Tests for Meningitis
The diagnosis of both types of meningitis is confirmed by taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the lower end of the spine (which is an extension of the brain) and examining it under a microscope for the presence of certain cells and it can be cultured to find the responsible bacteria. Blood tests also show abnormalities. |
Treatment for Meningitis
Viral meningitis: no specific treatment or prevention available. Bed rest, good nursing, paracetamol, and sometimes medication for vomiting are prescribed. Bacterial meningitis: antibiotics in high doses, usually by injection or a continuous drip into a vein. Patients always require hospitalization. Both common causes of bacterial meningitis can be prevented by a vaccine. The HiB vaccine is routine in childhood, but the Meningococcal vaccine is only given during epidemics to close contacts of victims. Other forms of bacterial and viral meningitis cannot be prevented.
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Complications of Meningitis of its treatment
Viral meningitis: rare for there to be any after-effects.
Bacterial meningitis: complications include permanent deafness in one or both ears, damage to different parts of the brain, heart or kidney damage, arthritis and the excess production of cerebrospinal fluid which can put pressure on the brain (hydrocephalus). The worst complication is intravascular coagulation, which involves the blood clotting within the arteries and blocking them. |
Likely Outcome of Meningitis
Viral meningitis: patients recover in one or two weeks.
Bacterial meningitis: patients deteriorate very rapidly and most deaths occur within the first 24 hours. The overall mortality rate is about 20%, although it is higher in children and with the Meningococcal form. |
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