In the world there are many infectious diseases that arise for various reasons. Some of them are very dangerous, and people who are diagnosed with them need urgent hospitalization and therapy. In case of epidemics of infectious pathologies, preventive medical and sanitary measures are carried out in educational institutions (kindergartens, schools, universities, colleges and so on).
Serous meningitis
This disease is an infection that is caused by various pathogens. It manifests itself as an inflammatory process in the meninges, as a result of which fluid, mainly consisting of lymph, accumulates in them.
Serous meningitis (code according to ICD-10 G02.0), unlike the purulent form of this disease, is not so difficult and in most cases can be easily treated. Most often, this infection occurs in children and adolescents, but adults also sometimes get sick.
Meningitis: causes of the disease and its varieties
There are several types of pathology. First of all, primary and secondary serous meningitis are distinguished. The first variety is a separate disease (for example, caused by specific ECHO or Coxsackie viruses). The second form manifests itself as a complication of infectious pathologies. This disease often occurs after the flu, measles, mumps, rubella, herpetic sore throat.
There is also another classification depending on the etiology of serous meningitis. Given such a factor as pathogens that provoke the disease, the following varieties are distinguished:
- Viral meningitis.
- Bacterial (most often this disease is caused by pathogens of syphilis and tuberculosis).
- Fungal (microorganisms such as Candida fungus provoke this form of infection).
With serous meningitis in adults, the symptoms are about the same as in children (headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, increased lacrimation). The signs of the primary and secondary forms of infection are also almost no different from each other.
Ways of infection
Until the sixties of the last century, there were much more cases of infection with serous meningitis than today. This has been associated with periodic epidemics of childhood cerebrospinal paralysis. The wide spread of polio vaccine has led to a significant reduction in the incidence of serous meningitis. However, epidemics of this disease do occur. Most outbreaks occur in summer and early fall. The answer to the question whether meningitis is contagious is certainly a positive one. There are several ways of infection. In most cases, the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Bacteria, viruses, or fungi that cause infection get into the air when coughing and sneezing.
How is meningitis transmitted from person to person? Firstly, in contact with the patient and the use of his things or personal hygiene items. Secondly, through the placenta from a pregnant woman to a child (which, however, is extremely rare). You can catch serous meningitis through unwashed berries, vegetables and fruits, as well as when bathing in untreated open water during an epidemic. The carriers of the disease are rats and mice, as well as ticks. Therefore, when detecting rodents in the room, it is extremely important to conduct measures to combat them. And before going to the forest, you should protect yourself as much as possible from a tick bite.
Who is most at risk of getting sick?
The serous meningitis virus affects mainly children, as well as adults with a weak immune system, susceptible to infectious diseases. In addition, the presence of malignant neoplasms, tuberculosis, HIV infection can become a risk factor. To the question of how to protect yourself from meningitis, the answer is quite simple: it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. To do this, you should avoid stressful situations, overload, do not overcool, take vitamins and eat healthy foods. It is known that bacteria and viruses provoke meningitis, the causes of the disease, that is, its pathogens, can be transmitted by rodents. Therefore, people living in unsanitary conditions are at risk of contracting this infection.
Serous Meningitis in Children
In minors, this disease can be caused by various causes and is accompanied by signs of brain disorders and general intoxication.
At the beginning of the disease in children there is an increase in temperature, increased breathing and heart rate, fever. The child's face takes on a red or pale shade, it becomes moody, restless, tearful, he has no appetite. There is nausea, vomiting, and upset stools. The first signs that parents should alert are headache (it is usually localized in the forehead, temples, or occiput), as well as skin rashes. Unfortunately, meningitis in children is much more serious than in adults, and often leads to serious consequences, up to a coma and death. Babies who have suffered this disease have impaired renal, visual and hearing organs, seizures, mental retardation and learning difficulties.
Some children have cardiac pathologies, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, strabismus. It was found that the younger the child, the more likely the infection will be fatal. Meningitis in infancy most often leads to the death of the patient. A child who has had this infection needs regular medical attention. He also needs to undergo examinations prescribed by the doctor from time to time.
The main prevention of serous meningitis in children is vaccination. If at least one child is ill with this infection in a child care facility, it is necessary to close the organization for quarantine and conduct a screening of people who came into contact with the infected person. In addition, from an early age, children need to be taught to observe the rules of personal hygiene. It is important to ensure that the child regularly washed his hands, did not use other people's objects (such as towels, toothbrushes), did not bathe in open water during epidemics, did not eat unwashed fruits, berries and vegetables, and did not drink raw water.
How does the disease progress in adults? Key features
First of all, it should be noted that this disease is characterized by a latent period, which usually lasts from two to four days. Is meningitis contagious at this time? Unfortunately yes. A person who does not yet know that he is sick and who has not yet shown signs of pathology is able to infect others.
After the end of the latent period, pathological phenomena begin to occur. An increase in temperature to 40 degrees often accompanies a disease such as serous meningitis. In adults, symptoms may include the following:
- Muscle pain, general weakness.
- An elevated temperature for three days, its sharp decrease, and then re-occurrence.
- Signs of poisoning (diarrhea, stomach pain, flatulence, nausea and repeated vomiting, independent of food intake).
- Headache, aggravated by external stimuli (light, sound, smell), as well as when moving. The patient feels a slight improvement in well-being when he is in darkness, silence and complete rest.
- Overstrain of the neck muscles.
- Heart rate reduction.
- Disorders of consciousness. As a rule, a coma or fainting does not occur with an infection such as serous meningitis in adults. Symptoms of this nature are most often found in children. Although in adults, they can occur in severe infections and in the absence of adequate therapy.
Other symptoms
Meningitis can also be recognized by some external manifestations:
- Redness of the face.
- Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye.
- Rash in the form of vesicles in the region of the nasolabial triangle.
- Reddened throat with external signs of herpetic sore throat.
- Sneezing, coughing and runny nose.
- Lethargy.
Redness of the pharynx, rash and cough are observed primarily with the simultaneous course of herpetic sore throat and the development of such a complication as serous meningitis. In adults, symptoms resembling poisoning or an intestinal infection prevail in a disease caused by the Coxsackie virus.
Meningitis Armstrong
This pathology is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process in the meninges, lungs, and heart muscle. The disease begins suddenly. Its first signs are fever, vomiting and headache. Patients also have impaired consciousness, hearing and vision. On the tenth day after the onset of the first symptoms, with adequate therapy, the patient's condition improves, but slight weakness can persist for several weeks. Cases of Armstrong meningitis are most common in winter and spring. The carriers of the disease are rats and mice. A person becomes infected from rodents by inhaling dust containing excrement in which microorganisms are present.
Diagnostic measures for suspected serous meningitis
If during the examination, the doctor reveals signs indicating the presence of this infection in the patient, he directs the patient for additional examinations. If serous meningitis is suspected, the diagnosis includes the following measures:
- Laboratory tests of blood and urine in order to identify possible abnormalities in their composition (for example, high white blood cell count).
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- Chest x-ray.
- CT scan.
- Spinal puncture for assessing the state of cerebrospinal fluid (in the presence of infection in the body, cerebrospinal fluid contains a large number of lymphocytes).
Symptoms characteristic of serous meningitis, in some cases, may indicate the presence of other pathologies. Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, a specialist needs to conduct a series of analyzes and various diagnostic procedures.
Therapy
In adults, this infection usually does not go too hard. In most cases, it does not lead to the death of the patient. However, timely treatment is necessary, as it prevents the development of complications. Knowing how contagious the disease is and how meningitis is transmitted from person to person, doctors who diagnosed the patient with this infection recommend that he go to the hospital immediately. In addition, the disease can be cured and possible consequences avoided only in a hospital setting.
Therapy for serous meningitis includes the following:
- With the bacterial form, antibiotics and agents are prescribed to combat the causative agents of the disease.
- To reduce the pressure inside the skull, medications are prescribed that stimulate the passage of fluid (for example, furosemide).
- If tuberculosis is detected in the patient, he should take drugs aimed at combating the causative agents of this disease (rifampicin, pyrazinamide).
- For muscle relaxation, drugs with a calming effect (for example, "Seduxen") are prescribed.
- Antipyretic drugs are used to lower the temperature.
- With severe intoxication, the patient is given droppers with a special solution.
- Severe headache is stopped with the help of analgesics.
The consequences of pathology
Severe serous meningitis is dangerous for the development of complications. First of all, this is a violation of the functions of the organs of hearing and vision. In addition, with a running infection and in the absence of adequate therapy, patients may develop coma, paralysis, inflammatory pathologies of the pancreas, testicles. Sometimes there is a deterioration in cognitive function. In general, serous meningitis is more dangerous for children than for adults. In minor patients, the infection itself and its consequences are serious. Some children who have had this disease experience mental abnormalities. However, this does not mean that adults with symptoms of meningitis can self-medicate. This disease requires immediate medical attention.
Recovery activities
The consequences of infection (headaches, weakness) can occur in adults for several weeks. Therefore, after serous meningitis, rehabilitation is urgently needed. It allows you to restore the body and strengthen the immune system, weakened as a result of the disease. It is also necessary to adjust the central nervous system and improve fluid outflow. Rehabilitation activities for patients include the following:
- Electrophoresis
- Massage treatments.
- Therapeutic baths.
- Physiotherapy with the help of electromagnetic waves.
- UV exposure.
- Reception of vitamin complexes to strengthen the body's defenses.
- If periodic attacks of cephalalgia occur after an infection, a specialist can prescribe painkillers.
Also, patients are offered sanatorium-resort treatment (usually in cities such as Sochi or Crimea). Sea water has a beneficial effect on the body and increases its resistance to infections and the possibility of recovery.
How to protect yourself from meningitis?
This disease is contagious, and in order to protect yourself from infection, you must take precautions, especially during a seasonal outbreak of infection. First of all, it is important to keep the room clean, regularly clean the floor, and air the rooms. Products (especially vegetables, fruits and berries) must be properly stored and must be washed before use. Since the causative agent of meningitis, the ECHO virus, lives in water bodies, bathing during epidemics should be avoided.
It is also necessary to fight rodents (mice, rats), as they can also carry the disease. Before walking in the forest, it is important to protect yourself from a tick bite. Also, do not forget to wash your hands regularly, preferably with antibacterial soap. If someone close has got this infection, it is necessary to avoid contact with him, if possible, not to use his personal hygiene items, utensils. Clothes and bedding belonging to the patient are recommended to be washed thoroughly.
In the presence of infectious diseases (including children), they must be treated promptly. It is also recommended to strengthen the body with vitamins, regular walks in the fresh air, balanced nutrition, healthy sleep, sports and tempering procedures. Since the disease is contagious, when epidemics occur, children's institutions and educational institutions temporarily stop their work, and they carry out a set of sanitary, medical and hygienic measures to prevent the further spread of the infection. With an outbreak of serous meningitis, quarantine in kindergartens and schools usually lasts at least two weeks.