The disease, which is characterized by an inflammatory process in the pia mater and has a serous character, is called serous meningitis. This pathology occurs as a result of the penetration of viruses, bacteria, fungi into the body, as well as due to systemic diseases, neoplasms and cerebral cysts.
The inflammatory process is accompanied by serious symptoms, which significantly impairs the patient's quality of life. Signs of the disease do not pass immediately after the treatment, the condition normalizes over a long period. The examination is conducted in-depth, on the basis of which treatment is prescribed. Attention is paid to differential diagnosis. Do not deal with this disease with independent therapy, as this can lead to serious, irreversible consequences.
What it is?
Serous meningitis refers to an inflammatory disease that affects the brain. As mentioned earlier, pathology arises as a result of the progression of pathogens in the body, as well as due to other provoking factors. In some cases, the pathology is non-infectious aseptic in nature, in order to determine this, an examination is required.
It is worth noting that this type of meningitis is not accompanied by the death of cells and the formation of pus, therefore, it proceeds more easily and has a favorable prognosis with timely treatment. The disease is diagnosed in most cases among the children's population, the age group from 3 to 6 years. As for adults, the serous form in them is observed in rare cases, mainly in patients 19-31 years old, most often suffering from weakened immunity.
Classification
Serous meningitis is of several types. It all depends on the type of trigger factor.
Varieties of the disease:
- Viral nature. In this situation, the serous form is provoked by the Coxsackie and Echo viruses.
- Bacterial nature. Bacteria, which are the main causes of tuberculosis and syphilis, can provoke meningitis of this type.
- Fungal nature. The disease occurs as a result of the progression of an opportunistic infection in the body.
Serous meningitis, depending on the origin, is divided into:
- Primary. Damage to the lining of the brain is observed.
- Secondary. It arises as a complication of an infectious disease.
The inflammatory process in adults is diagnosed only if the patient suffers from immunodeficiency.
Provocative factors
In most cases, enteroviruses can provoke an acute form of this disease. In rare cases, adult serous meningitis occurs as a result of infectious mononucleosis, mumps virus, cytomegalovirus and so on. In children, pathology is often diagnosed after measles.
Inflammation of the brain of a serous form can lead to edema of this organ. As a result, the patient has a disturbed outflow of cerebral fluid, due to which there is swelling and increased pressure inside the skull. The serous form of pathology is not able to lead to mass exudation of neutrophils, as well as the death of brain cells.
How can I get infected? Incubation period
With serous meningitis, the incubation period is no more than four days, during which significant changes in the body occur. To a greater extent, everything will depend on the pathogen, the path of infection, which can include the following:
- Airborne droplet. The causative agent of the disease is located on the mucous surface of the respiratory tract, therefore, when coughing or sneezing, the viruses enter the air, and from there, when breathing, to a healthy person.
- Contact way. The causative agent can be localized not only on the mucosa, but also on the eyes, open wounds. A sick person in contact with an infected area infects objects.
- Waterway. Most viruses that can trigger this type of meningitis are transmitted through the aquatic environment. Therefore, in the summer, you need to swim only in trusted places, especially with children.
Not only a sick person, but also a virus carrier can pose a certain danger.
Symptoms of Serous Meningitis
The disease does not proceed smoothly, gradually. Meningitis begins abruptly. Suddenly, the patient's temperature rises to 39.9 degrees. Also, the patient begins to complain of a severe headache. Cephalgia indicates the progression of the inflammatory process. Then pain in the muscles, joints, increased weakness are noted. Nausea and vomiting may be present. The head hurts constantly, which greatly affects the quality of life of the patient. Unpleasant sensations can become more pronounced during movement, due to bright light and strong sounds, as well as other external stimuli.
Typical symptoms of serous meningitis include an increased tone of the cervical muscle tissue from the back. As a result, the patient cannot freely move his head, tilt it forward. Most of the time the patient is in a lying position on his side, while he strongly presses his legs to himself, and throws his head back. Signs of ARVI may also be noted. Some patients are diagnosed with strabismus, problems with the swallowing reflex.
Symptoms of Serous Meningitis in Children
Children are also difficult to tolerate this disease, which is accompanied by severe symptoms. In a child, violations such as:
- Headache that aggravates with movement. Therefore, the child is more in a supine position.
- Vomiting, which very often occurs due to fever.
- The child is not interested in anything; he is constantly sleeping or just lying and not moving.
- The muscles are in tension, it is difficult for him to move and do basic actions.
- Fontanel swelling (in children under the age of 1 year).
The listed signs of serous meningitis in children are considered indirect, which only help to suggest a diagnosis.
Diagnosis in children
Diagnosis of the disease in children involves puncture of cerebrospinal fluid. It is considered an effective and high-quality research method in this situation. Accompanied by unpleasant sensations. If a child is diagnosed with serous type meningitis, then the prognosis is favorable in most cases. A small patient with meningitis is treated in a hospital for several weeks, after which he is registered with a neurologist.
The cerebrospinal fluid in a sick child will be the color of milk and leak under pressure. After the puncture, the baby becomes much easier, cephalgia subsides, the temperature begins to subside, nausea passes. The general condition is normal. If the diagnosis was not carried out in a timely manner, therapy will not give the desired result, complications will arise. In severe cases, neglect of the disease can lead to coma or death.
Diagnosis of the disease in adults
After the first symptoms of serous meningitis in an adult have appeared, you need to urgently seek qualified help from a neuropathologist, therapist. The specialist focuses on the general condition of the patient, examines the signs present, conducts an examination. Also, without fail, the doctor clarifies whether any diseases that could provoke meningitis have been transferred.
The patient is recommended to undergo such types of studies as:
- Clinical blood test. There will be a slight increase in ESR and white blood cells.
- Bacterial culture of smears from the throat and nasal cavity.
- PCR
- REEF.
- IFA.
Also, an adult may be prescribed a cerebrospinal fluid puncture, electroencephalography, brain MRI, echo-EG and other types of studies. You may need to consult other narrowly specialized specialists, for example, an ophthalmologist.
Differential diagnosis of serous meningitis involves a comparison with diseases such as:
- Purulent meningitis.
- Tick-borne encephalitis.
- Arachnoiditis.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Based on the results, therapy is prescribed.
Adult Treatment
The serous type of disease is treatable. The prognosis will be positive if the therapy was carried out in a timely manner. The patient can be under the supervision of specialists for up to a month. Treatment is not carried out at home.
The patient is prescribed:
- Antibacterial drugs.
- Antibiotics.
- Therapy that can eliminate the intoxication of the body.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Drugs with a diuretic effect. They help reduce intracranial pressure, prevent cerebral edema.
In rare cases, the patient is recommended oxygen therapy. Even after treatment, the patient may still be disturbed for some time by headaches, fatigue, memory problems.
Treatment in children
Treating serous meningitis in children involves taking antibiotics, but not all. If it was found that the infection provoked the pathology, it is recommended to take the antiviral drug - "Interferon". If meningitis was caused by the herpes virus, then the course of "Acyclovir" is prescribed. The dosage of any drug depends on the age category of the patient and the general condition.
Immunoglobulin can be administered intravenously to immunocompromised patients as well as infants. To reduce intracranial pressure, you need to take diuretics. Colloids are completely excluded from therapy. Due to severe headaches, antispasmodics are indicated.
To reduce the intoxication of the body, an isotonic saline solution is administered intravenously. If body temperature is significantly elevated, it is worth taking antipyretic drugs. With convulsions, Seduxen helps.
The child should be more calm, bed rest is recommended. The room where the patient is lying should be slightly darkened. Be sure to prescribe therapy with vitamin complexes and oxygen. To normalize the condition, preparations for the treatment of the central nervous system are also indicated.
Preventive actions
To protect yourself from this serious disease, it is worthwhile to carry out preventive measures. Experts recommend:
- Swim only in approved and authorized waters.
- Use only purified water and washed fruits, vegetables.
- Conduct hardening of the body.
- Eat properly.
- Exclude contact with sick people.
- If there was contact with a patient who suffers from meningitis, you must immediately undergo an examination and start therapy.
- Exclude contact with stray animals, birds.
- Use insect repellents.
- Conduct timely treatment of diseases that can trigger meningitis.
It is also worth carrying out preventive vaccination according to the vaccination schedule.
Forecast and consequences
After serous meningitis, various complications can occur. Also, this disease can be fatal, but this is possible only if therapy has not been carried out in a timely manner and the situation is too neglected.
It must be remembered that complications are a rare case. Basically, the pathology proceeds calmly and the prognosis is quite favorable, especially for adults. The consequences of serous meningitis in children are such abnormalities as hearing problems, speech impairment, paralysis, hallucinations, and coma. Also, after suffering a disease, the patient may be disturbed by headaches for another 2-3 years. Therefore, to maintain the condition, it is recommended to take drugs with the active component sumatriptan. They can eliminate a migraine attack in a short time.