Meningitis is a very terrible disease, the consequences of which can be irreversible. In itself, it is nothing but inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord and brain. Its causative agents are various. Usually it is chlamydia, viruses, fungi, bacteria and so on. Symptoms of meningitis are different. About them and much more will be discussed here.
What are the causes of meningitis
Eighty percent of diseases are caused by the following bacteria:
- hemophilic bacillus;
- meningococcus;
- Pneumococcus.
In fact, their presence in the human body is the norm. Problems begin only when they begin to infect the brain. In some cases, this is due to a weakened immunity and a past head injury. Meningitis can develop after suffering inflammatory diseases of the ears or nose.
E. coli, for example, are much less likely to cause meningitis. The same goes for Klebsiella. They can cause the described disease if the person has undergone surgery on the spinal cord or brain. Most often, infection occurs in the hospital.
Listeria is a bacterium that can cause meningitis in people whose immunity is severely weakened.
Symptoms of meningitis can most often be observed in young children. In adults, it appears much less frequently.
Meningitis: Symptoms in Children and Adults
In most cases, this disease is acute. Symptoms of meningitis usually begin with fever, severe muscle pain, and general weakness of the body. Further there may be differences. Some symptoms of meningitis depend on the pathogen: enterovirus - an upset bowel, meningococcus - a rash, pneumococcus - problems with the salivary glands.
One of the most striking signs of this disease is a headache, which has a spilled character. She quickly gains strength and very soon begins to cause great discomfort. Children from this start to cry and scream. The pain intensifies with movement.
Symptoms of meningitis are also nausea and vomiting. The skin becomes very sensitive. Usually, an adult begins to experience all the main symptoms of meningitis a day after infection, a child - much faster.
Adolescents as well as adults become extremely irritable. Drowsiness, confusion of thoughts appears. With meningitis, the tissue of the spinal cord as well as the brain is affected. Blood flow worsens. Of course, this can lead to a stroke.
Disease treatment
Hospitalization is mandatory. You should not even try to take any measures yourself. It is better to call a doctor at the first suspicion of this terrible disease.
Bacterial meningitis can lead to irreversible effects or even death within just a few hours. If the child has a fever for no reason, and besides, he has become capricious and irritable - hurry to call a doctor. The success of treatment largely depends on when the first measures were taken.
A number of drugs are used to treat meningitis that can improve cerebral blood flow. These include antihypoxants, antioxidants, nootropics.
In the event that the treatment of bacterial meningitis is started immediately, the probability that the patient will survive is ninety percent.
After discharge from the hospital, patients with meningitis should be observed by a neurologist for a long time. They will have to avoid heavy physical exertion, frustration and emotional upheaval. Also, they are not recommended to consume a lot of fluid, stay in the sun for a long time, and strain the brain. Drinking alcohol is unacceptable even in small doses.