Meningitis is an inflammatory and infectious disease affecting the lining of the brain. Its causative agent are various kinds of infections, in particular bacteria, viruses, fungi. Pathology can develop independently or arise as a result of complications of other diseases. It is very important to know exactly what are the first signs of meningitis in adults, so that the pathology can be recognized in a timely manner and treatment can be carried out.
Features of the disease
Meningitis is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the membranes of the brain that occurs due to the penetration of an infection into the body. Among the expressed clinical signs, the following can be distinguished:
- neck muscle tension;
- Strong headache;
- impaired consciousness;
- temperature rise.
Signs of meningitis in adults may be different, it all depends on the particular course of the disease. It manifests itself as a primary reaction to infection of the meninges or secondary inflammation that occurs in severe cases of other disorders. Such a pathology threatens death, disability of the patient, as well as incurable disorders of the body.
Shells cover the brain; they can be soft and hard. Distinguish between certain types of disease, depending on the area of inflammation. They may be as follows:
- leptomeningitis - damage to the soft membranes;
- pachymeningitis - inflammation of the hard shell;
- panmingitis is a lesion of all the membranes of the brain.
Basically, inflammation of the soft membranes of the brain is observed. This disease is one of the most dangerous, as it provokes the occurrence of serious complications, disability, and poor health. Treatment is carried out with the help of various antibacterial drugs that help to destroy most pathogens. As a prophylaxis, a special vaccine is used.
Causes of occurrence
To determine what signs of meningitis in adults and children may be, you need to understand exactly what exactly causes this disease. Inflammation of the meninges can occur under the influence of various infections. Depending on the type of pathogen, the signs of meningitis in adults may vary slightly, and therapy tactics are also selected separately.
The most favorable in terms of recovery is the viral type of the disease. Moreover, the degree of brain damage is minimal, and when conducting timely diagnosis and treatment, dangerous complications and patient death are quite rare. Viral meningitis occurs as a complication of existing infectious diseases, such as:
- measles;
- mumps;
- syphilis and others.
The pathways for pathogens to enter the membranes of the brain are very diverse. They can get through the blood, through the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as with the flow of lymph. Unlike the bacterial form, viruses provoke a very complex inflammation of the serous nature without the release of pus. With the viral form, the acute stage takes about 2-3 days, then short-term relief comes, and then the symptoms again increase.
The bacterial form has more pronounced symptoms and is characterized by a severe course of the disease, as well as the development of dangerous complications. The highest risk of death is observed with this type of violation.
With the course of the inflammatory process on the surface of the meninges, pus formation is noted, which significantly complicates the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, which provokes a rapid increase in intracranial pressure. Among the main signs of adult meningitis, intoxication of the body and severe fever can be noted.
This form is very often accompanied by confusion of thinking, impaired consciousness, the presence of hallucinations, as well as increased mental activity. With a sharp multiplication of pathogens, the patient may even fall into a coma. Very often, bacterial meningitis occurs as complications of chronic tonsillitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, abscesses, sinusitis, osteomyelitis. Boils can be dangerous, since they act as sources of pathogens, which, together with blood, can spread throughout the body.
Tuberculous meningitis occurs as a result of the fact that tuberculosis microbacteria spread throughout the body and penetrate the lining of the brain. In addition, other pathogenic microorganisms and their combination can also provoke the development of inflammation. That is why a protozoal and fungal form may appear. Meningitis can develop as complications of processes during metastasis of neoplasms, as well as diseases of connective tissue.
Classification
The signs of meningitis in an adult can vary significantly depending on the classification of the pathological process. By the nature of the inflammation, doctors distinguish the following types:
- purulent;
- bacterial;
- serous.
- viral.
The serous type of meningitis is characterized by the absence of purulent discharge, as well as an easier course. The group of these types of inflammation includes:
- influenza
- tuberculous
- enterovirus;
- syphilitic;
- mumps.
Doctors classify meningitis by the nature of its course and emit a fulminant course, acute and chronic form. The fulminant appearance develops within only a few hours, it is especially characteristic for infants. The incubation period is almost always absent, and death can occur literally a day after infection.
The acute form of the disease affects the body in just a few days and is characterized by severe signs of meningitis in adults. Often ends with the development of dangerous complications or the death of the patient. The chronic form develops gradually, the symptoms all the time grows and becomes more pronounced.
In addition, meningitis is classified by the localization of inflammation, it can affect only a certain part of the brain or its entire surface.
The course of the disease in adults
Basically, the disease affects young men aged 20-30 years. Often the causative agents of the pathology are pneumococci, meningococci and hemophilic bacillus. In addition, there is a tuberculosis form. The most common causes of inflammation are diseases such as:
- sinusitis;
- carious processes;
- otitis;
- respiratory infections;
- bronchitis.
Women are much less susceptible to the occurrence of meningitis, however, during pregnancy, this probability increases sharply, as there is a decrease in immunity. If there are signs of meningitis in an adult, you need to see a doctor for an appropriate diagnosis of treatment. In addition, prophylaxis is required, the basis of which is vaccination, treatment of inflammatory processes, timely debridement, limitation of contacts with a sick person.
The course of the disease in children
In a child under 5 years old, meningitis is a high degree of danger, since the risk of death is quite high. Complications at this age are also very bad for the baby's condition. The most severe form of the disease develops when a child is infected during passage through the birth canal. Inflammation proceeds literally with lightning speed, provoking the most dangerous consequences. For children 1-5 years old, mostly viral forms of meningitis are characteristic, since they differ in less pronounced symptoms and consequences. The bacterial type of the disease is much more difficult to tolerate, therefore vaccination is required to carry out the protection.
The main symptoms
The disease is characterized mainly by acute course. In most cases, the first signs of meningitis in adults are observed, such as:
- temperature rise;
- chills;
- rapid breathing;
- increased ESR and white blood cells;
- tachycardia.
They resemble the course of a cold, which is why it is very difficult to make a correct diagnosis in the initial stages. In addition, there are quite specific symptoms and signs of meningitis in adults, which include the following:
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache;
- an increase in the occipital muscles;
- skin rashes;
- intolerance to light and sounds.
The localization of the headache is absent and over time it becomes simply unbearable, and any movements strengthen it even more. In some cases, an illness can occur in an adult without fever. The signs of meningitis in this case are somewhat mixed, which is difficult to recognize.
With a mild course, the disease can manifest itself in the form of a small dark red rash, which passes literally in a few days. If the bruising and red spots are quite large, then this may indicate a severe course of meningitis.
Diagnostics
A very complex and dangerous violation is meningitis. The signs of the disease in adults can be quite blurry, which is why, in order to prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics and treatment in time. It is important not only to make a diagnosis, but also to determine the degree of development, the type of inflammation, its pathogen and localization. The main diagnostic methods include the following:
- patient complaints;
- examination of the patient;
- laboratory blood test;
- lumbar puncture.
Puncture is carried out exclusively by a specialist using a long and thin needle. She needs to make a puncture through the skin at the level of the lower back and carry out a cerebrospinal fluid sampling for subsequent examination. To study the characteristics of the meninges and the detection of inflammation, tomography is required. In order to identify the causative agent of the disease and choose the best quality treatment, an analysis of PCR is prescribed.
Treatment features
If signs of meningitis occur in adults, only a qualified doctor can determine how to treat the disease. The sooner therapy is started, the greater the patient's chances of a successful recovery. Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital. Basically, primary forms are treated in the infectious diseases department, and secondary forms are treated in the specialized department, depending on the main diagnosis.
If, with head hypothermia, signs of meningitis in adults increase quite rapidly and cerebral edema progresses rapidly, the patient should stay in the intensive care unit. The hospital prescribes antibiotic therapy, symptomatic treatment and measures aimed at eliminating pathogenic mechanisms.
With the bacterial form of meningitis, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are prescribed. The most commonly prescribed medications are Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime in combination with Ampicillin and Benzylpenicillin.
If there are signs of viral meningitis in adults, antiviral agents, such as Tiloron, as well as immunoglobulins, interferons, are prescribed for therapy. If meningitis was provoked by tubercle bacillus, then anti-TB drugs are prescribed.
Possible complications
When the first signs of meningitis appear in adults, treatment should be started immediately to minimize possible consequences. After a previous illness, the consequences will largely depend on what kind of microorganism it was provoked.
One of the most frequent and dangerous consequences provoked by meningitis is cerebral edema. Often it develops in children and adolescents during the first days after the onset of the course of the disease.
When meningococci enter the bloodstream, an infectious toxic shock is formed. After such a complication, it occurs within 3 days. Young people can simultaneously develop toxic shock and extensive cerebral edema. Sometimes, migraines, drowsiness, and weather dependence become a consequence of previous meningitis for a long time. In other cases, complications such as:
- hearing loss;
- psychopathy and epilepsy;
- memory impairment and distraction;
- strabismus.
After the onset of meningitis in childhood, severe complications can remain in a person for life, therefore, the disease requires prolonged therapy and regular monitoring by a doctor even after complete recovery.
Forecast and Prevention
It is quite difficult to prevent the development of this dangerous and complex disease, since there are a lot of pathogens, so the system of preventive measures for each is completely different. General rules are:
- early diagnosis;
- timely isolation of the patient;
- compliance with personal hygiene;
- use of personal protective equipment;
- maintaining normal immunity.
The only way to prevent the development of meningitis is through vaccination. Often, for these purposes, a meningococcal vaccine, a CPC and a vaccine against hemophilic bacillus are used.
The prognosis of the course largely depends on the individual characteristics of the patient and many other factors. It is rather ambiguous, since sometimes the disease proceeds reactively, and no emergency measures help save the patient, and in other cases the patient recovers completely without consequences.