Since childhood, we have often heard the phrase: “Put on a hat, otherwise you will get sick with meningitis,” but few people gave this warning much significance. Meanwhile, this infectious disease is really extremely dangerous, especially for children. It is difficult to diagnose. This is mainly because the main symptoms of infectious meningitis are similar to other inflammatory diseases. Therefore, you need to know them in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from this dangerous infection.
Meningococcal meningitis
Symptoms of infectious meningitis caused by meningococcus appear very quickly, even with lightning speed. First of all, the temperature rises, often up to 39-40 degrees, the patient is greatly in fever. Also, in a person in the first days a
hemorrhagic rash appears on the body
. These two symptoms are enough to suspect an infection and seek medical help. To confirm the diagnosis,
cerebrospinal fluid is taken for analysis
. In case of infection, it will be cloudy, milky white, with a high content of neutrophils, in which under a microscope, bean-shaped diplococci will be visible with an increase. Island-inflammatory changes are also reflected in the results of a general blood test. In the absence of proper treatment, mortality from this infection can reach 50%.
Symptoms of Hemophilus influenzae Meningitis
This infection is characteristic of children up to a year. It affects the membranes of both the brain and the spinal cord. At such a young age for infants, a disease such as infectious meningitis, the incubation period of which can be from several hours to two days, is not only very dangerous, it can affect the further mental development of the child. Therefore, when the
first signs of inflammation appear
, namely high fever, runny nose and
hoarseness in the throat, you should consult a doctor. The clinical course of this disease often resembles ARI. But in children up to a year, a warning symptom may be frequent spitting up, vomiting, as well as causeless crying.
Symptoms of Pneumococcus Infectious Meningitis
Pneumococcal meningitis in most cases is preceded by otitis media or pneumonia. But there are often cases when the infection develops as a primary one. The incubation period is short. The first symptoms appear instantly. Meningeal syndrome is noted later than when the meninges are affected by meningococcus. The disease progresses rapidly. Complicated symptoms such as impaired consciousness, paresis and cramps appear early, even with early hospitalization. When
analyzing cerebrospinal fluid, it is clear that it is purulent, extracellular diplococci of a characteristic lanceolate form are found in it. Due to the rapid involvement in the pathological process of the ventricles of the brain, mortality is high. It reaches 25% even with proper treatment. Most often, this disease develops in children and the elderly. Perhaps today one of the most dangerous diseases is meningitis. Infectious diseases with such a clinical picture, of course, are treated, and very successfully, but still it is not possible to reduce their mortality.