Meningitis is an inflammatory disease of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain. It can appear both as an independent ailment, and as a result after a simple SARS. The disease is caused by bacteria and viruses.
Types of disease
Today, many types of ailment are known, but the most common are serous and purulent meningitis. The last type of disease is transmitted by the person himself, whose nasopharynx becomes a natural reservoir of meningococcus. And to infect others, it is enough to sneeze or cough. Serous meningitis is transmitted not only through contact with the patient, but also through unwashed fruits and vegetables, and you can also get infected in the pool when swimming. Another carrier of this type of disease is a tick. After all, encephalitis is one of the varieties of meningitis.
Causes of the disease
The main cause of the disease is infection with meningococcal infection. Its carriers may be people who have intestinal infections or nasopharyngitis. In this case, the carrier itself may not hurt. But this is not the only causative agent of the disease. The cause of inflammation can become a tubercle bacillus, and spirochete, and pneumococcus, and many more viruses and bacteria. And also the disease can be provoked by incorrect or not completely cured otitis media, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis and any purulent inflammation of the respiratory system and nasopharynx.
The main symptoms of meningitis
Meningitis usually begins acutely. Only the tuberculosis type of the disease can proceed very slowly. Sometimes even up to several months. The disease is so insidious that the signs and symptoms of meningitis can be completely similar to acute respiratory viral infections: temperature, malaise, weakness, muscle pain. Symptoms of acute meningitis are quite pronounced. It manifests itself in a severe headache, which over time only intensifies, especially with movement, bright light and noise. Nausea and vomiting do not bring relief. The body becomes stained, which can last from several days to several weeks. The most reliable symptom of meningitis can be called tension of the occipital muscles. It manifests itself when you try to press your head to your chest and stretch your legs. If at least the slightest symptoms of meningitis appear, treatment should be started immediately.
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease
The doctor determines meningitis almost at the first glance at the patient. Which is no wonder, very specific signs of an ailment. But for a more accurate diagnosis, puncture from the spinal cord can be taken. If the symptoms of meningitis are confirmed, treatment should only take place in a hospital setting. In no case should you resort to folk methods. This is fatal. Of the drugs, broad-spectrum antibiotics will be prescribed. They are used intravenously, but in severe cases, they can also be entered into the spinal canal. The duration of taking the drugs is determined only by the doctor. But just another week after the temperature returned to normal, the antibiotic must enter the body. In order not to cause
cerebral edema, diuretics are prescribed. At the same time, calcium intake is necessary, because the latest drugs wash it out of the body. Recovery sometimes takes up to a year. Therefore, one should be patient.
Disease prevention
If you find symptoms of meningitis, treatment should be started without delay. And in order not to get infected, you need to be vaccinated against those diseases that can cause this ailment. And besides, avoid contact with patients, wear masks during an epidemic, monitor hygiene and wash vegetables and fruits. Say that these are children's tips? By no means, having discovered the symptoms of meningitis, you should start treatment immediately, otherwise you will face death. So it’s better to follow children's advice than to get sick.