What kind of disease is meningitis? So called inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. There are numerous classifications of this ailment: according to the causative agent, course, severity of the process, the presence of complications. It is also divided by the nature of inflammation:
Serous meningitis is a form of the disease characterized by the presence of a large number of lymphocytes in the
cerebrospinal fluid . It is usually caused by viral pathogens (chickenpox, measles, flu, ECHO viruses, rubella and other diseases) and protozoa (toxoplasmas). The purulent form arises under the influence of fungi, various bacteria
(Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci, Klebsiella, meningococci, streptococci, pneumococci). Both adults and children, including infants, are ill. Death from meningitis is a frequent phenomenon if the disease was not diagnosed in a timely manner and the patient was not treated.
How is the disease manifested?
Usually the signs of a purulent or serous process are similar, only with the latter they are less pronounced. The patient has:
- headache;
- fear of light and touch;
- cramps
- in infants - bulging fontanelles of the skull;
- confusion of consciousness;
- sometimes vomiting;
- fever (in this case, the body temperature rises strongly - up to 40 ° C, then decreases to normal and rises again).
Rigidity (hardness) of the occipital and cervical muscles, severe drowsiness, coma in people suffering from a serous form of inflammation of the meninges are rare. Rashes, as with meningococcal infection, do not occur. If the disease is caused by measles, mumps and others, other manifestations characteristic of them will be present.
So, we figured out that serous meningitis is a disease accompanied by certain symptoms of damage to the meninges. External clinical signs differ little from those with purulent inflammation.
How to diagnose pathology
Since serous meningitis is a disease usually of viral etiology, and purulent - bacterial, then their therapy should be different, because you need to work on the cause of the pathology to cure the patient. How to confirm the diagnosis? The most important and determining method is the study of cerebrospinal fluid. Blood tests are also performed. There will be changes specific to viral diseases in the analyzes.
How is the disease treated?
Based on the fact that serous meningitis is usually a process caused by a virus or protozoa, therapy should be appropriate, prescribe:
- antiviral drugs (antiprotozoal);
- diuretics;
- anticonvulsants;
- solutions for intravenous administration;
- sometimes corticosteroids;
- medical punctures to remove excess pressure on the brain fluid;
According to the famous modern pediatrician - Dr. Komarovsky - meningitis in children can be cured, but you can’t hesitate to go to the doctor. Although the overall prognosis for a serous form of the disease is better than for a bacterial one, the problem is serious. The child’s life and further forecasts for a full recovery will depend on the speed of treatment.