Meningitis is an infection of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord that results in inflammation and swelling, which in some cases results in nerve and brain damage.

Although meningitis can affect people of any age, it most often occurs in infants and young children. Here are the signs and symptoms that can be detected in a child with meningitis:

  • high body temperature combined with cold hands and feet;
  • the child may be restless, but afraid of being touched;
  • the child can cry without ceasing;
  • some children become very sleepy and difficult to wake up;
  • children may seem confused and indifferent to what is happening;
  • spotty red rashes may appear on the body that do not disappear when pressed with a hard object (for example, a glass).

In older children and adults, symptoms of meningitis may include:

  • Strong headache;
  • vomit;
  • high temperature (fever) up to 38ºC or higher;
  • stiffness (rigidity) of the neck muscles;
  • increased sensitivity to light;
  • rapid breathing;
  • feeling of brokenness;
  • characteristic rash on the skin (not observed in everyone).

It is important to note that not all patients have a complete list of the described symptoms. If you notice any of the symptoms of meningitis, especially in a young child, seek immediate medical attention!

There are two main types of meningitis:

  • bacterial meningitis, which develops as a result of infection with bacteria, such as Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumonia, and is transmitted through close physical contact;
  • viral meningitis, which develops as a result of infection with viruses, and is transmitted by coughing, sneezing and poor hygiene.

Bacterial meningitis- a serious condition, and assistance to the patient should be provided on an emergency basis. If not treated promptly, a bacterial infection can cause serious brain complications and lead to blood poisoning (sepsis).

The incidence of bacterial meningitis averages about 3 cases per 100,000 population. More than 80% of bacterial meningitis is caused by N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae.

In Russia, N.meningitidis is the cause of about 60% of cases of bacterial meningitis, S.pneumoniae - 30% and H.influenzae - 10%. Most often, bacterial meningitis affects children under 5 years of age and, in particular, infants in the first year of life. In addition, the disease is common among adolescents aged 15–19 years.

There are vaccinations for certain types of bacterial meningitis that help reduce the incidence and prevent serious complications. In our country, mandatory vaccination against meningitis is carried out according to epidemic indications, that is, then and in those regions where an outbreak of the disease is observed or predicted. However, a vaccine against group B meningococcus, which is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, has not yet become widely practiced. Therefore, it is so important to know the signs and symptoms of this disease and, in case of suspicion of meningitis, seek medical help in a timely manner.

Viral meningitis is the most common and less serious type of meningitis. It is difficult to estimate the number of cases of viral meningitis because the symptoms are often so mild that the disease is mistaken for the flu. Viral meningitis is most common in children and is most common during the summer months.

Viral meningitis usually resolves within a few weeks. The main components of treatment are complete rest and drugs that relieve headaches. Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics (drugs that kill germs). Treatment requires mandatory hospitalization in an infectious diseases hospital, and in serious cases even in an intensive care unit, where you can continuously monitor the patient's basic vital signs.

Until a few decades ago, almost everyone who developed bacterial meningitis died. Nowadays, deaths are mainly caused by sepsis, not meningitis. Meningococcal disease (a combination of meningitis and sepsis) causes death in approximately one in 10 cases. About a quarter of those who recover from bacterial meningitis may develop complications, such as hearing loss.

The best way to prevent meningitis is preventive vaccination - provided that it is carried out on time. As of February 2014, in Russia, vaccination against pathogens of bacterial meningitis is not included in the National Immunization Schedule. Vaccination is done according to epidemic indications, which are determined by the state sanitary and epidemiological authorities. The need for vaccination arises in areas where there is an increase in the incidence of meningococcal infection.

However, you can get vaccinated at will, without indications - for a fee. In addition, the necessary vaccination against meningitis should be taken care of before traveling to some countries of the world.

Symptoms of meningitis

Treatment of meningitis must be started on an emergency basis, since bacterial meningitis can lead to sepsis, and this, in turn, to the death of the patient.

It is possible to distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis only on the basis of clinical tests. This can not be done, guided only by the symptoms of the disease. Therefore, each case of suspected meningitis should be considered as a situation that threatens health and life.

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is the most serious form of the disease. Symptoms tend to develop suddenly and progress rapidly. In case of suspicion of bacterial meningitis, you must immediately call an ambulance - 03 from a landline phone, 112 or 911 - from a mobile phone. Here are a few early signs to watch out for meningitis. You may notice them before more severe symptoms appear.

Bacterial meningitis has several early signs that usually appear before the rest, these are:

  • muscle, joint, or limb pain;
  • unusually cold hands and feet, shaking;
  • pale skin or the appearance of spots on it, blue lips.

A situation where a high temperature (fever) is combined with any of the above symptoms should be taken very seriously. Call an ambulance immediately - 03 from a landline, 112 or 911 from a mobile.

Early symptoms of bacterial meningitis are similar to those of many other diseases and include:

  • severe headache;
  • fever
  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • feeling of brokenness.

Fever is an increase in body temperature. In general, this is usually understood as a temperature increase of more than 38ºC in both adults and children. Also with fever is observed:

  • hot to the touch forehead and whole face;
  • redness of the skin of the face.

Deterioration of the patient's condition can lead to the following symptoms:

  • drowsiness;
  • confusion;
  • seizures or convulsions;
  • intolerance to bright light (photophobia) - this is less common in young children;
  • stiffness of the neck muscles - also not always observed in young children;
  • rapid breathing;
  • patchy red rash that does not go away when pressed with a hard object (such as a glass beaker).

Infants and young children have particularities in the manifestations of bacterial meningitis. Possible symptoms include:

  • passivity or indifference to what is happening;
  • numbness;
  • sharp, convulsive movements are possible;
  • irritability, fear of touch;
  • unusual crying;
  • vomiting and refusal to feed;
  • pale and patchy skin;
  • loss of appetite;
  • frozen expression;
  • some children become very sleepy and difficult to wake up.

Some babies develop swelling in the soft part of the head (near the fontanelle).

Symptoms of viral meningitis

Most people with viral meningitis have flu-like symptoms, such as:

  • headache;
  • fever (see above);
  • feeling of brokenness.

In more severe cases of viral meningitis, symptoms may include:

  • stiffness (stiffness in movements) of the neck;
  • muscle or joint pain;
  • nausea;
  • vomit;
  • diarrhea (frequent loose, loose stools);
  • photophobia (intolerance to bright light).

Unlike bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis usually does not lead to sepsis.

Causes of meningitis

Meningitis can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Vaccination has helped reduce the different types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. However, there are currently several bacteria for which there are no effective vaccines yet. Some causative agents of bacterial meningitis are described below.

Neisseria meningitidis often referred to as meningococcal bacteria. There are several different types of meningococcal bacteria, referred to as groups A, B, C, W, X, Y, and Z. Currently, there is a vaccination that provides protection against group C meningococcal bacteria. A combination vaccine is also produced that provides resistance to groups A, C , W and Y meningococcal bacteria.

In addition, some cases of bacterial meningitis are caused by group B meningococcal bacteria. Currently (as of February 2014), the group B meningitis vaccine has not yet been certified in Russia, and therefore is not yet available for widespread use.

Streptococcus pneumoniae called pneumococcal bacteria. They often cause meningitis in infants and young children because their immune system (the body's defense system) has not yet acquired resistance (immunity) to these bacteria.

Ways of spread of infection

Bacteria - the causative agents of meningitis cannot live for a long time outside the human body, therefore, meningitis can only be contracted through prolonged close contact. Possible modes of transmission:

  • sneezing
  • cough;
  • kisses;
  • sharing utensils, such as cutlery;
  • sharing individual items, such as a toothbrush or a cigarette.

Since most people (especially adults over 25 years of age) have a natural immunity to meningococcal bacteria, most cases of bacterial meningitis are local in nature (isolated cases). However, there is a possibility of small epidemic outbreaks (several diseases at once) that occur in places where young people are close to each other. For example:

  • in boarding schools;
  • on campuses;
  • in the barracks;
  • in hostels.

It is much easier to contract pneumococcal bacteria than meningococcal bacteria because they are transmitted through coughing and sneezing. However, in most cases, this pathogen causes only a mild infection, such as inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media).

Viral meningitis

As with bacterial meningitis, vaccination programs have successfully eliminated many of the pathogens that previously caused viral meningitis. For example, the mumps vaccine provides children with immunity against mumps, which was once the main cause of viral meningitis in children.

However, there are still a number of viruses that can cause this type of meningitis. They include:

  • enteroviruses - a group of viruses that usually cause only a mild intestinal infection and are spread through coughing, sneezing or due to poor personal hygiene (dirty hands);
  • herpes simplex virus - which can cause genital herpes and herpes simplex (on the lips).

Development of infectious meningitis

As a rule, for the development of meningitis, it is necessary that the pathogen (bacterium or virus) enter the bloodstream. The infection may begin in one organ, such as the throat or lungs, before it travels through the tissues into the blood. The brain is usually protected from infection by the blood-brain (between the blood and nervous system) barrier, which is a thick membrane that filters out any impurities from the blood.

However, for reasons that are not fully understood, in some people the infection is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and infect the meninges (meninges). As a result of the immune response, the meninges become inflamed and swell (swell) to stop the infection from spreading. Swollen meninges can damage the brain and other parts of the nervous system (nerves and spinal cord).

Bacteria or viruses can also infect the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. CSF infection can increase inflammation and swelling of the meninges, leading to increased intracranial pressure and compression of the brain. This phenomenon is known as increased intracranial pressure.

Diagnosis of meningitis

Meningitis is difficult to diagnose. This disease usually develops suddenly and can be easily confused with the flu, as their symptoms are very similar. If you notice any of the symptoms of meningitis, especially in a young child, seek immediate medical attention!

This can be a call to an ambulance or an independent appeal to the emergency department of the nearest hospital at any time of the day. You should not wait for the appearance of a purple rash, since this symptom does not appear in everyone. Always take the suspicion of meningitis seriously until doctors have refuted the diagnosis.

If you are not sure that you are dealing with meningitis, you can consult:

  • by calling the clinic at the place of residence;
  • at the ambulance dispatcher by calling 03 from a landline, 112 or 911 from a mobile phone.

If meningitis is suspected, treatment is usually started before the diagnosis is confirmed. This is due to the fact that obtaining the results of some tests takes several hours, and delay is life-threatening for the patient. Doctors do a physical exam to check for symptoms of meningitis or sepsis (blood poisoning), such as a rash. They also take tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnostic tests and tests for meningitis may include:

  • bacteriological blood test - to check the blood for the presence of bacteria or viruses that cause meningitis;
  • lumbar puncture - in which a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the subarachnoid space of the spine (the cavity between the membranes of the spinal cord) and checked for bacteria or viruses;
  • examination by computed tomography (CT) - if there is a suspicion of complications of meningitis, for example, brain damage;
  • chest x-ray - in order to find the source of infection.

A lumbar puncture may be delayed if the patient has signs of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the brain. This is because taking a small amount of CSF can cause an even greater increase in pressure.

Treatment of meningitis

People with suspected meningitis or sepsis should be hospitalized immediately, regardless of circumstances or location.

Treatment of bacterial meningitis

Most patients with bacterial meningitis need urgent treatment in an infectious diseases hospital. If a severe form of meningitis is diagnosed, then such patients should be taken to the intensive care unit.

Antibiotics (drugs to treat bacterial infections) are used as the main drug. They will be administered intravenously.

At the same time, you may be given:

  • oxygen;
  • droppers;
  • steroids or other treatment that reduces inflammation and reduces swelling of the meninges.

If antibiotic therapy is effective, you will spend about a week or less in the hospital. But if the disease is severe, treatment in a hospital can take several weeks or even months. Meningococcal infection (a combination of meningitis and sepsis) can lead to some long-term complications.

Treatment of viral meningitis

Viral meningitis usually occurs:

  • in severe or moderate form;
  • in mild form.

Treatment for these types of meningitis is described below.

Severe and moderate viral meningitis. At the initial stage, it is difficult to distinguish viral from bacterial meningitis. Therefore, in the hospital, until the bacterial nature of meningitis is excluded, antibiotic treatment is started. Once the diagnosis of viral meningitis is confirmed, antibiotics will be discontinued. However, maintenance therapy in the form of droppers will continue until the moment of recovery. In very serious cases, a patient with viral meningitis may be prescribed antiviral drugs.

Mild viral meningitis. Treatment for most people with viral meningitis does not require hospitalization. Viral meningitis is usually mild and can be left at home if the following conditions are met:

  • complete rest;
  • drugs that relieve headaches;
  • antiemetics (against nausea).

Most people recover within 5 to 14 days.

Most cases of meningitis are sporadic and the risk of spreading the infection is extremely low. However, if there is reason to believe that someone is at risk of infection, then antibiotic therapy may be prescribed as a preventive measure. This may be, for example, a small child who has spent a lot of time in close contact with another child who has bacterial meningitis.

Complications of meningitis

Bacterial meningitis has an extremely severe effect on the human body and nervous system. It is believed that a quarter of people with meningococcal disease (a combination of meningitis and blood poisoning) have complications later on.

The severity of complications and their duration may vary from patient to patient. Generally, the more severe the infection, the higher the chance of complications. Complications are more common after bacterial meningitis and rare after viral meningitis.

Possible complications include:

  • partial or complete hearing loss;
  • problems with memory and concentration;
  • problems with coordination and balance;
  • learning difficulties, which may be temporary or permanent;
  • epilepsy - a condition accompanied by repetitive convulsions;
  • cerebral palsy - a general term for a number of syndromes that affect movement and coordination;
  • speech problems;
  • partial or complete loss of vision.

hearing loss

Because hearing loss is the most common complication of meningitis, people recovering from the illness are usually tested to assess their hearing. Such a test should be performed before discharge from the hospital or within 4 weeks after recovery.

Children and young people should provide the results of their hearing test to their pediatrician. This should happen within 4 to 6 weeks after you leave the hospital. If your hearing is severely affected, then you may need cochlear implants (small devices placed in your ears to improve your hearing).

Gangrene

If bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can release toxins that destroy healthy tissue. If tissue damage is significant, then they die off, and gangrene develops. Dead tissue must be removed during surgical debridement. In the most serious cases, it may be necessary to amputate an entire body part, such as:

  • finger or toe;
  • limb.

Intensive care (reanimation)

In itself, treatment in intensive care for several weeks can also sometimes cause complications. The most common problems seen in patients discharged from the intensive care unit include:

  • feeling weak and tired;
  • weakening of the voice;
  • feeling of depression.

Read more about intensive care recovery for more information about the problems you may encounter and possible solutions.

Psychological effects

Having meningitis can be a severe psychological ordeal, especially for young children. The behavior and emotions of many people can change after an illness. The following psychological effects are possible:

  • the appearance of obsession and the need for guardianship and excessive attention from loved ones (for example, a child may show anxiety if there is no mother nearby);
  • enuresis (bedwetting);
  • sleep disturbance;
  • nightmares;
  • capriciousness;
  • aggression or irritability;
  • feeling of depression and depression;
  • bouts of anger;
  • development of fear of doctors and hospitals.

These effects should go away with time as they recover, but some people may need additional treatment to cope with the psychological effects of meningitis. Be sure to see a doctor if your child's post-illness behavior causes concern, or if you have psychological problems.

You can seek professional psychological help from a psychotherapist or a child psychologist (a specialist with a psychological education who assesses and corrects mental disorders in children).

Vaccination against meningitis

Several vaccines are available to prevent most cases of viral and bacterial meningitis.

Available preparations for preventive vaccinations include:

  • mumps vaccine (alone or in combination with measles and rubella vaccines);
  • vaccine against meningococcal infection group C;
  • vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus (DTP or ATP-m) and polio virus;
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine;
  • pneumococcal combined vaccine.

Some of these vaccines are included in the National Immunization Schedule and are administered free of charge throughout the Russian Federation, some can be supplied privately and if there are special indications. Check with your doctor about vaccination dates and available immunizations in your area.

In January 2013, the European Health Commission licensed a new vaccine called Bexsero that protects against group B meningococcal disease, a relatively rare but deadly type of bacterial meningitis. This drug is already available for use in some countries of Europe and North America, but Bexsero is not yet registered in Russia (as of February 2014).

Groups of meningococcal infections A, Y and W135 are especially common in some countries of the world. If you are traveling abroad, it may make sense to get vaccinated against groups A, C, W, and Y of meningococcal bacteria.

Areas of increased incidence for meningococcal meningitis:

  • part of Africa;
  • Saudi Arabia.

Vaccination against meningococcal groups A, C, Y and W135 is recommended if you are traveling to a high-risk area and if you plan to:

  • stay there longer than one month, hiking;
  • live with local residents in rural areas, performing Hajj or Umrah (pilgrimages to Mecca, the center of the Islamic world) in Saudi Arabia;
  • perform seasonal work during the Hajj period in Saudi Arabia.

Tourists arriving in Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah, and as seasonal workers during the Hajj period, are required to confirm vaccination against groups A, C, Y and W135 meningococcal disease.

A comprehensive vaccination can protect you from several groups of meningococcal infections at once. Vaccination should be carried out 2-3 weeks before travel. For adults and children over 5 years of age, a single dose is effective for approximately 5 years. The duration of action for vaccinated children under 5 years of age is 2 to 3 years.

For infants and young children aged 2 months to 2 years, the vaccination course consists of 3 doses given 3 months apart. The meningitis vaccine is not suitable for infants under 2 months of age.

Approximately 10% of people reported soreness and redness at the injection site after the introduction of a comprehensive meningococcal vaccine. This effect usually wears off after 24 to 48 hours. A mild fever may also occur (usually more common in young children than adults). Serious adverse reactions are extremely rare.

Localization and translation prepared by site. NHS Choices provided the original content for free. It is available from www.nhs.uk. NHS Choices has not been reviewed, and takes no responsibility for, the localization or translation of its original content

Copyright notice: “Department of Health original content 2019”

All materials on the site have been checked by doctors. However, even the most reliable article does not allow taking into account all the features of the disease in a particular person. Therefore, the information posted on our website cannot replace a visit to the doctor, but only complements it. Articles are prepared for informational purposes and are advisory in nature.

Quick page navigation

There is an opinion among people that you can get meningitis if you walk without a hat in cold weather. Others think that meningitis is a severe headache. But not everything is so simple with this disease.

  • First, meningitis is always triggered by an infection.
  • Secondly, the rapid development of symptoms threatens with a state of shock and death.

Meningitis - what is it?

Meningitis is an acute inflammatory process in the meninges. Its rapid development is accompanied by severe intoxication and meningeal symptoms.

In the absence of treatment within a few hours (maximum 2-3 days), an infectious-toxic shock develops, the risk of negative consequences of damage to the meninges and death increases significantly.

Regarding the causes of meningitis, the following facts should be considered:

  • Pathogen- most often meningococcus, pneumococcus, tuberculosis bacillus, various viruses (enterovirus, chickenpox, rubella, measles), protozoa (toxoplasma, amoeba) and fungi;
  • Transmission routes- contact, through the air (when a patient or carrier coughs or sneezes) or with food, through the bloodstream or with lymph from the foci of infection (otitis media, boils on the face and neck, sinusitis can provoke secondary purulent meningitis);
  • Provoking and exacerbating disease course factors - immunodeficiency, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, chronic fatigue syndrome, long-term medication, stomach ulcers.

meningitis photo in adults

Types of meningitis

The development of meningitis directly depends on the infectious agent that caused it. There are the following types of disease:

  • Purulent meningitis - most often provoked by meningococcus. The incubation period is 1-4 days. Severe brain symptoms with toxic shock develop at lightning speed.
  • Serous meningitis - symptoms increase within a week, the patient's condition is less severe. Most often, serous inflammation is initiated by a viral infection.
  • Tuberculous meningitis - symptoms of damage to the meninges of a tuberculous bacillus grow over several months, headache and frequent vomiting come to the fore.

Treatment for meningitis in adults depends on the type of infection. The rapid development of severe conditions requires urgent measures and specific treatment. Therefore, doctors, without waiting for the results of sowing and based on characteristic signs, begin etiotropic therapy.

The first signs of meningitis, symptoms

Meningitis is characterized by an acute onset and, in most cases, rapid development.

The first signs of meningitis in adults:

  • temperature rise to high numbers (39-40ºС);
  • intoxication - weakness, muscle pain, complete lack of appetite, apathy;
  • bursting pain spread all over the head, aggravated by movement, bright light and loud sounds;
  • the appearance of a rash - small-dot dark cherry color or large spots in the form of hematomas (single or multiple);
    photophobia and vomiting.

Important! The more purple spots appeared on the skin (meningococcemia), the more severe the disease and the worse the prognosis of the disease.

meningitis photo - a symptom in children and adults (Kernig, Brudzinsky)

In serous and purulent meningitis, the incubation period develops very quickly - the patient's condition is rapidly deteriorating, and with a lightning-fast course of the disease, death can occur within a few hours. The inflammatory process spreading through the meninges is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Rigidity (strong tension) of the occipital muscles causes the patient to throw his head back. The attempt to turn the head is difficult and leads to severe pain.
  • The patient assumes the pose of a "legged dog" - the position on the side, the head and arms are brought to the chest, the legs are bent.
  • Hyperesthesia - discomfort even at the slightest touch.
  • Vomiting indomitable even without eating, does not bring relief.
  • Strabismus develops when the oculomotor nerves are involved in the inflammatory process.
  • Urinary retention.
  • Convulsive twitching of arms and legs.
  • Impairment of consciousness - inhibited speech, slow reaction, hallucinations.
  • Kernig's symptom - when the lower limb is bent at the hip joint, the knee joint cannot be fully extended (see photo above).
  • Brudzinsky's symptoms: upper - lying on his back, an attempt to raise his head provokes bending of the legs at the knees; buccal - pressing over the cheekbone provokes bending of the arm at the elbow; medium - pressure on the pubic bone is accompanied by flexion of the legs; lower - when bringing one leg to the stomach, the second also bends.
  • Bekhterev's symptom - tapping on the cheekbone causes a curvature of the face (painful grimace).
  • Flatau's symptom - when the hand tilts the head forward, the pupils dilate.
  • Levinson's symptom - when you try to tilt your head to your chest on your own, your mouth opens.

These symptoms of meningitis in adults indicate a massive lesion of the meninges. When they are identified, emergency medical care and, often, resuscitation are necessary.

Consequences of meningitis - what is the danger?

Lack of timely assistance is fraught with the development of even more dangerous conditions:

  1. Infectious-toxic shock - a decrease in blood pressure, shortness of breath, a sharp reaction to light and sounds, agitation, followed by adynamia, total lethargy and coma;
  2. Encephalitis - weakening of the muscle tone of the limbs, convulsions, asymmetrical curvature of the face, confused, incoherent speech;
  3. Cerebral edema - loss of consciousness, a sharp decrease and the same subsequent rise in a / d, jumps in the rhythm of the heart, shortness of breath and all signs of fluid accumulation in the lung tissue;
  4. The death of 10% of patients - severe infectious-toxic shock, combined with cerebral edema, is especially dangerous.

The consequences of meningitis, even with its timely full treatment, can be very serious and lead to disability. After an illness, a person can state:

  • loss of hearing or vision
  • epilepsy
  • paresis / paralysis,
  • arachnoiditis, hydrocephalus.

Treatment of postmeningeal consequences is long and often does not return the lost functions in full.

Treatment of meningitis in adults, drugs

The complex treatment of meningitis includes etiotropic therapy (drugs that destroy the infection are administered intravenously), and measures aimed at detoxifying the body and combating cerebral edema.

Treatment regimen:

  • Treatment of purulent meningitis - Ceftriaxone, Gentamicin, Ampicillin, Methicillin (most often 2 drugs are combined).
  • Therapy of viral meningitis - Immunoglobulin, Acyclovir (with the isolation of the Epstein-Barr virus, herpes), Zidovudine (with HIV).
  • Treatment of tuberculous meningitis - Amikacin (drug of choice), Kanamycin, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide.
  • Detoxification therapy and the fight against shock - in / in the infusion of glucose and detox solutions with vitamins and corticosteroids (Prednisolone).
  • Prevention of cerebral edema - diuretics (Diacarb, Lasix).
  • Symptomatic therapy - antipyretic, anticonvulsant and drugs that support cardiac activity.

Patients with mild serous meningitis can be treated at home under regular medical supervision. In severe cases of meningococcal infection, hospitalization in a separate box of the infectious diseases department is required.

Usually the critical condition stabilizes after 7 days. After that, the patient still receives antibiotics, but there is no longer any fear for his life.

Forecast

The prognosis for meningitis, especially meningococcal, is more than serious. This disease is one of the top ten infections leading to death. Even complex treatment of meningitis does not exclude the development of long-term consequences.

Therefore, after the illness, a person should be regularly observed by a neurologist and take a culture from the nasopharynx to identify the carriage of meningococcus.

Meningitis in children is one of those diseases that, by its name alone, inspires panic in all parents without exception. And despite the fact that the treatment of meningitis is never complete without the intervention of doctors, it is the observation of mom and dad that can play a decisive role in the successful recovery of the child.

In the case of children, it is not so much the inflammation of the meninges itself that is dangerous (which, in fact, is meningitis), but the catastrophic complications and consequences that it can provoke in the absence of proper treatment.

Meningitis in a child is a sentence!

Even in our time, most parents are convinced that meningitis in children is actually a sentence: if the child survives, he will remain disabled for life.

Where does this "primal" fear come from? Apparently - from the depths of time, from the historical context. After all, they “learned” to successfully treat meningitis in children relatively recently - about 60-70 years ago. Basically - thanks to the "discovery" of antibiotics in medical practice. Until that time, in fact, 100% of children and adults who fell ill with meningitis really either died or were left to live with severe injuries ...

Even today, meningitis, especially in children, is considered one of the most dangerous diseases. For comparison: over the past 75 years, mortality from most childhood diseases has decreased by an average of 25 times, while cases of death from meningitis among children have decreased by only 2 times.

Part of the reason for the high death rate from meningitis is that it is caused not by any particular microbe, fungus, or virus, but by a whole “company.” By and large, the symptomatic diagnosis of meningitis itself does not indicate a specific pathogen.

Meningitis means only a process - inflammation in the membranes of the brain. But the specific culprits of this inflammation can be any hostile microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

In this regard, the conclusion logically suggests itself - meningitis (both in children and adults) are different: both in their nature, and in the severity of the course of the disease, and in the methods of treatment, and in the degree of complications. And, fortunately, nowadays there is no reason to panic and lose one's head with horror at the mere mention of meningitis in a child - with early diagnosis and timely treatment, they are successfully treated without leaving negative consequences.

How does meningitis occur in a child?

In order for inflammation of the membranes of the brain to occur (this is meningitis), it is necessary that the pathogen - whether it be a bacterium, virus or fungus - gets inside the cranium, into the cranial cavity. Often, meningitis occurs as a complication of diseases such as or severe.

There are also cases when meningitis in children develops against the background of a traumatic brain injury - which is quite logical: the integrity of the skull is violated, microorganisms enter the cavity and an inflammatory process develops.

And yet, the most common scenario for the occurrence of meningitis is the entry of pathogens into the cranial cavity with blood flow. And bacteria, viruses or fungi, in turn, can get into the blood with dozens of different diseases if the baby’s immune system has not “built” the proper barrier. And finally, in the child's body itself (along with the disease), the causative agent of infectious meningitis (whether it be a virus, bacterium or fungus) enters in 95% of cases by airborne droplets from another carrier or a sick person.

That is, a typical pattern for the occurrence of meningitis can be as follows:, or, or say, or ("almost any infection will do") - a virus, bacteria or fungus has entered the baby's body. And if the child's immunity is not strong enough - a large number of "pests" are in the baby's blood. Then, with the bloodstream, they are carried throughout the body, in theory having the ability to cause inflammation anywhere. They also enter the cranial cavity. And if the activity of viruses, bacteria or fungi is localized in the membranes of the brain, meningitis occurs (viral, bacterial or fungal).

That is why children with weakened immune systems are always considered by doctors to be a special risk group for meningitis. However, the factor of poor immunity does not explain the fact that boys get meningitis on average 3.5 times more often than girls.

Meningitis in all its diversity

We have already mentioned that most often meningitis in children is of an infectious nature, they are different and differ depending on the pathogen. For example, viral meningitis often occurs against the background of such viral infections as: chickenpox, rubella, herpes infection, influenza, etc.

In children with immunodeficiency (for example, in patients with AIDS), it is fungal meningitis that most often occurs.

And the real "champions" among all other meningitis in children are bacterial. They can occur against the background of any purulent inflammation that occurs in the body - for example, with tonsillitis, an abscess at the site of a burn, etc. But the most common causative agent of bacterial meningitis is a special microbe meningococcus. Even this microbe got its name precisely because of its closest connection with meningitis.

As a rule, meningococcus enters the child's body through the nasopharynx (airborne droplets) and then spreads with the bloodstream - into the meninges, joints, lungs, internal organs, and so on. Wherever meningococcus appears, it can cause an inflammatory process (meningococcal infection). If this happened in the membranes of the brain, then the child will have to be treated for meningococcal meningitis.

By the way, before the advent of antibiotics, every meningococcal meningitis ended in the death of a child and an adult. Today, the mortality rate from meningococcal infection (including meningococcal meningitis) is also high - from 5 to 15% of the number of cases.

In addition to meningococcus, the causative agent of bacterial meningitis in children can be: pneumococci, staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae, Koch's tubercle bacillus and other bacteria.

In case of any suspicion of meningitis, parents are obliged to seek medical help, preferably immediately to the infectious diseases clinic. Meanwhile, it will be useful for parents to know that, for example, most viral meningitis is by no means terrible. They disappear on their own 5-7 days after the onset of inflammation, as soon as the immune system produces a sufficient amount of antiviral interferon.

But bacterial meningitis (and, alas, most of them) are much more dangerous! This group of meningitis in children is successfully treated, as a rule, only if antibacterial treatment was started on the very first day after infection.

That is why it is so important to immediately contact the doctors if a child is suspected of having meningitis - after all, you and the doctors have only a day to determine what type of meningitis the baby has. And only in this case, the chances of a successful recovery are great. But the longer you put off seeing an infectious disease specialist if you suspect bacterial meningitis, the more tragic the consequences can be.

One hundred percent accurate method of confirming the diagnosis of "meningitis" in a child (and identifying the pathogen) is a spinal puncture.

Symptoms of meningitis in children

Regardless of what breed is the causative agent of inflammation in the meninges, there are a number of symptoms of meningitis in children, which is universal for all varieties of the disease. These symptoms include:

  • severe headache (which occurs due to a sharp headache);
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • photophobia;
  • lethargy and drowsiness;
  • pale appearance of the skin;
  • possible loss of consciousness and convulsions;
  • neck stiffness (the baby is almost always with his head thrown back; the fact is that with meningitis, the child is not able to tilt his head forward - so as to touch his chest with his chin, due to strong tension in the neck muscles);
  • a vivid symptom in children of the first year of life - swelling and pulsation of the fontanel, combined with constant monotonous crying;

We repeat: any slightest suspicion of meningitis in a child requires immediate hospitalization and medical examination! Despite the fact that meningitis itself rarely happens in children in reality, in no case should you bet on it: it’s better to play it safe a hundred times, go to the doctor and eventually refute the suspicions than once “slip” real meningitis. Because if ignored, this disease almost always turns into disastrous consequences for the health and life of the child.

There is another striking symptom of meningitis infection, which, together with other signs, illustrates meningococcal meningitis:

  • a specific rash on the body of a child (this rash looks like bruises, hemorrhages of red or purple colors that do not disappear when pressed on them).

If you notice such a sign in your child, then you need to rush to the infectious diseases hospital three times faster than with all other meningeal symptoms! Such hemorrhages indicate that meningococcus provoked inflammation in the blood (that is, blood poisoning began - meningococcal sepsis, one of the most dangerous infectious childhood diseases). If first aid is not provided to the child in the next few hours, he will have a hemorrhage in the adrenal glands, his blood pressure will drop sharply, and he will most likely die.

Complications after meningitis in children

In the case of children, complications and consequences after suffering meningitis (and especially meningococcal meningitis) can be more than catastrophic. Among the most negative:

  • severe and regular headaches;
  • pronounced lags in physical and emotional development;
  • severe disorders of mental development;
  • epilepsy;
  • loss of vision and hearing;
  • convulsions (spontaneous muscle contractions);
  • kidney failure;
  • cerebral edema;

However, all of the sad consequences of meningitis listed above relate in the vast majority of cases to advanced bacterial forms of the disease, to which neither parents nor doctors responded in time.

The occurrence of complications after meningitis in children is directly related to two factors - which microbe caused the disease and how quickly adequate treatment was started. That is, in this case, it is your parental observation, quick reaction and persistent desire to “show” the child to specialists at the first suspicion of meningitis, as a rule, and are the key to a successful recovery without consequences.

Prevention of meningitis in children

It would be naive to assume that there are some "magic" measures that would protect our body and the bodies of our children from "meeting" with all sorts of harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. Of course, there are no such measures.

At the same time, for example, adequate and timely vaccination is, to a certain extent, prevention against meningitis. After all, meningitis is different - depending on the pathogen. And if we give the baby an appropriate vaccine against this pathogen, then we also protect against one of the types of meningitis.

Here's a vivid example for you: tuberculous meningitis is one of the most terrible and dangerous forms of inflammation of the meninges in children, the causative agent of which is a tubercle bacillus (or otherwise, Koch's bacillus). To cure a child of tuberculous meningitis, he is usually prescribed a course of 30 to 45 injections of streptomycin into the spinal canal. Not every adult can endure as much pain and fear as such a baby has ... However, when we are in infancy, it reliably protects him in the future not only from tuberculosis itself, but also from tuberculous meningitis.

On the other hand, meningitis disease directly depends on the state of the child's immune system. The stronger it is, the less likely he is to get meningitis. And this means that the only reasonable and effective prevention of meningitis in children, in addition to vaccination, is the constant concern for strong children's immunity.


Meningitis is a dangerous disease that affects the meninges. From this article you will learn everything about what meningitis is, what are the symptoms and treatment of pathology, how to recognize the signs of the disease and what are the causes of the development of the disease.

What kind of disease

Meningitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Home treatment is never done as it can be life threatening for the patient. Even when the disease can be cured, after a while or immediately after meningitis, severe consequences can develop.

The main cause of the inflammatory process in the brain is the penetration of various microorganisms. Although the pathology develops in both men and women, such a diagnosis is more often found than in adults. Experts believe that this is due to the fact that the child has a large permeability of the blood-brain barrier or it has not yet fully formed.

Important! The risk of getting meningitis is maximum up to 4 years, especially in newborns in the period from 3-8 months of life.

Even timely diagnosis and therapy with effective methods does not always prevent the death of the patient. After recovery, at least another 30% of patients suffer from complications of meningitis.

Classification of pathology

There is a generally accepted classification of meningitis, which determines the different features of the forms of pathology.

According to the characteristics of the flow

According to the nature of the course of inflammation, meningitis is:

  • purulent;
  • serous.

Purulent meningitis is a pathology that is provoked by a meningitis infection, or meningococcus. Has the most severe course. Purulent exudate accumulates inside.

Serous meningitis is a form of the disease caused by viral pathogens. The polio virus can cause the disease. There are also enterovirus, influenza and other forms of meningitis.

According to the mechanism of occurrence

Also, meningitis is divided into primary and secondary. During primary inflammation, the infection penetrates directly into the meninges, and the entire body as a whole is not exposed to infection. In the secondary type of inflammation, at first other organs and systems of a person suffer from infection, and then the meninges are gradually involved in the pathological process.

Due to development

Depending on the cause of meningitis, the following types of the disease are distinguished:

  • bacterial;
  • fungal;
  • viral;
  • the simplest;
  • mixed.

Bacterial meningitis is considered the most dangerous, as it is more severe, causes more exacerbations and often ends in death. The most difficult to treat is staphylococcal and syphilitic meningitis.

Note! Meningococcal meningitis also refers to the bacterial form of the disease and is difficult to treat even in stationary conditions, a distinctive feature is the presence of a specific rash.

Fungal meningitis is caused by fungal microorganisms. A person becomes ill when the infection enters the brain. The causative agents can be fungi of the genus Candida or cryptococcal microorganisms.

Viral meningitis develops after the activation of viruses. In another way, this type of pathology is called aseptic. Symptoms are usually associated with the virus that turned out to be the causative agent of the disease. Meningeal symptoms in this form of pathology are usually mild. Such infectious meningitis is provoked by the herpes virus, mumps and others.

The simplest meningitis is one that is caused by the simplest microorganisms. It can be toxoplasmic (protozoal) or encephalitic (amebic) meningitis.

With a mixed form, the disease is caused by several types of pathogens at once.

According to the rate of development of pathology

There are such forms of meningitis:

  • lightning fast;
  • acute;
  • chronic.

With fulminant, or reactive meningitis, the disease is characterized by rapid development. Symptoms develop very quickly. Unfortunately, even careful treatment by a doctor does not bring results, and the patient usually dies. This is due to the fact that all clinical symptoms occur within one day and all stages of pathology development pass in a short period.

In the acute course of the disease, all symptoms occur quickly, although not immediately. The picture of the disease develops and usually lasts no more than three days.

In the chronic course of the disease, it can be difficult to clearly establish at what point the disease began. The picture of the pathology develops gradually, the symptoms intensify.

By process localization

It is also possible to divide meningitis into types depending on the location of the inflammatory process. It can be bilateral, or it can be localized only on one side.

If the pathology is located in the lower part of the brain, doctors call it basal. When inflammation is localized in front, convexital meningitis is diagnosed. The spinal form of pathology is set when the spinal cord is involved in the pathological process.

Other types of meningitis

Tuberculous meningitis sometimes becomes the first sign of infection with a tubercle bacillus. Symptoms of a general nature, however, after a while, characteristic signs appear that can be used to make a diagnosis.

Note! Previously, tuberculous meningitis ended in death, but now it is successfully treated in 75-85% of cases.

Toxic meningitis begins when the meninges are affected by toxic substances. The cause of the pathology can be exposure to acetone, dichloroethane and other chemical compounds.

Post-traumatic meningitis develops after a traumatic brain injury. Symptoms appear approximately 2 weeks after the event. Postoperative meningitis develops according to the same principle. The causative agent in this case is most often gram-positive cocci, especially streptococci and staphylococci.

Reasons for the development of the disease

It is important to understand why meningitis develops. To treat such a serious pathology, it is important to eliminate the negative impact of negative factors as soon as possible.

You can get sick with this inflammatory pathology only in case of infection. The main causative agent of pathology is considered to be meningococcus. This infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, which means that with any, even remote contact, meningitis can be contagious.

Important! With the penetration of the disease into the children's team, meningitis can acquire the scope of an epidemic.

Cerebral and spinal meningitis can develop against the background of the action of viruses, fungi and other microorganisms. Penetration of infection directly into the brain occurs by hematogenous and lymphogenous routes.

Risk factors

However, even when infected with viruses or bacteria, not everyone suffers from meningitis. First aid may be required in the presence of such conditions and circumstances that increase the risk of disease:

  • decreased immune defense;
  • chronic fatigue;
  • inadequate diet;
  • endocrine disorders;
  • hormonal disruptions;
  • stomach or duodenal ulcer;
  • oncological diseases;
  • long-term use of drugs;
  • traumatic brain injury.

It is noted that some patients developed meningitis shortly after a stroke. It is important to understand that sometimes even qualified doctors do not have time to differentiate between stroke and meningitis.

Sometimes the risk of developing the disease increases with frontal sinusitis, osteomyelitis, localized on the face. With an odontogenic type of pathology, the cause may be a carious tooth or other problems in the area of ​​​​the jaws and teeth. Abscesses in the lungs, as well as all kinds of otitis media, increase the risk of meningitis.

Symptoms of the disease

To safely treat meningitis, you must be able to recognize the first signs of the disease and call an ambulance in a timely manner. This is a very serious disease that does not tolerate delay, as it can cost lives.

Initially, there are general problems. There may be symptoms resembling signs of intoxication:

  • high body temperature;
  • skin blanching;
  • joint and muscle pain;
  • complaints of rapid heartbeat;
  • dyspnea;
  • lowering blood pressure to critical levels;
  • refusal of food;
  • weight loss;
  • intense thirst.

Important! The appearance of any negative symptoms during pregnancy should be a reason for an immediate appeal to a specialist!

Many of the symptoms of meningitis can resemble other pathologies, making it difficult to make an immediate diagnosis. However, when meningeal symptoms join the clinical picture, it becomes easier to determine the disease.

meningeal syndrome

The main symptom of meningitis is headache. However, it has certain features that make it possible to identify this dangerous disease.

With meningitis, the head hurts as follows:

  • constantly;
  • there is a feeling of bursting;
  • pain is stronger when leaning forward, backward or when turning;
  • a person reacts more strongly to bright lights and loud sounds.

There is a specific posture for meningitis. This is not due to a seizure, but to pain in the neck, which is relieved when the head is thrown back. That is why patients with this diagnosis maintain an unusual body position, as seen in the photo.

With this disease, disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract occur. In particular, the processes of digestion are damaged. Patients experience nausea and vomiting.

Note! Even with a complete refusal to eat food, this symptom does not disappear, but brings the patient severe torment.

In addition to a high fever, people with meningitis experience the following:

  • fever
  • chills;
  • lethargy;
  • increased sweating.

In adulthood, almost all patients with meningitis report severe photophobia. In addition to all the symptoms, when exposed to bright light on the eyes, the headache is greatly increased.

In more complex cases of the disease and in the later stages of the progression of the disease, the following symptoms may develop:

  • the perception of the surrounding world changes;
  • the patient becomes lethargic and slow to respond to treatment;
  • possible occurrence of hallucinations;
  • cases when patients showed aggression are known;
  • complete apathy;
  • convulsions;
  • voluntary urination.

After the incubation period passes, the intensive development of the symptoms of the disease begins.

Symptoms in infants

Signs of pathology in adolescents will be somewhat different from those that develop in infants.

At the age of up to a year, the following symptoms are possible:

  • the monotonous cry of a child;
  • changes in body temperature;
  • increased excitability;
  • excessive sleepiness;
  • refusal to feed;
  • vomit;
  • convulsive seizures;
  • bulging fontanel;
  • divergence of the sutures of the cranium.

To quickly identify meningitis, it is important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear.

Complications

If you do not get rid of the disease in a timely manner, serious complications can develop:

Cerebral edema is the most common complication of the disease. With its development, patients note impaired consciousness. Against the background of excessive squeezing of the brain, a coma occurs. There are convulsive seizures, hemiparesis, cardiac and respiratory arrest.

With hydrocephalus, there is a sudden sharp increase in intracranial pressure. This happens against the background of excessive filling of the brain with cerebrospinal fluid. Visually, one can note a physical increase in head diameter and tension.

A subdural effusion is when fluid builds up in spaces inside the brain. This usually occurs in the frontal lobes. Even with the use of antibiotics, the condition does not go away.

With the transition of the pathological process from the meninges to the ependyma of the ventricles, ventriculitis syndrome occurs.

Diagnostic measures

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will first listen to all the patient's complaints and first identify the disease. It is important to determine:

  • how long the patient has been bothered by unpleasant symptoms;
  • whether there have been recent bites of ticks that carry meningitis;
  • whether the patient has visited countries with an increased risk of contracting this pathology.

After that, the doctor will conduct a test to determine the degree of reaction, irritability, the presence of aggression, photophobia, seizures. Some patients have weakness in the muscles, asymmetry of the face. When the symptoms progress strongly, there is a high risk of encephalitis - inflammation of not only the membranes, but also the brain itself.

Additional studies may be ordered:

  • clinical blood test to determine the inflammatory process in the body;
  • lumbar puncture, in which part of the liquor is taken with the help of a puncture for laboratory research;
  • CT or MRI for visual assessment of the condition of the meninges and determination of the size of brain regions;
  • PCR to determine the type of infection for more effective therapy.

Of all the available methods that clarify meningitis - lumbar, or spinal puncture. If there is a disease, even in appearance it will be cloudy and thick, and during the analysis bacteria, proteins and elevated lymphocytes will be found.

Principles of treatment

Everyone should know that with meningitis, treatment with folk remedies is strictly prohibited. In just one day, without qualified assistance and without intensive medical therapy, the patient will die! Therefore, no folk methods can not be used!

The prescription is written by the doctor, based on the results of the examination. It is important to identify the nature of the causative agent of the disease. The following medications may be recommended:

  • broad-spectrum antibiotics (for example, Suprax);
  • antiviral agents.

Since at first it is necessary to urgently start therapy, the doctor can prescribe medications without waiting for the results of laboratory tests.

Important! After 7 days, even if the treatment has not yet been completed, it is necessary to change the antibiotic, as addiction may develop and it will no longer be so effective.

In addition to antibiotics, the following drugs can be prescribed:

  • diuretics to reduce swelling, including in the brain;
  • steroids to normalize the work of the pituitary gland;
  • vitamins to restore the body.

The operation is performed extremely rarely, mainly in cases of severe purulent meningitis to sanitize the affected areas of the brain. After such interventions, the rehabilitation period is usually longer than with medical treatment. However, in some cases, surgery can save a person's life.

Preventive measures

It is much better to take care of prevention in advance than to think about how to recover from such a serious illness. It is important to consider the following recommendations:

It is possible to protect a child from meningitis only by constantly strengthening his immunity. For these purposes, it is better to use not chemical immunomodulators, but simple remedies, including lemon, sea buckthorn, raspberry jam, and so on.

For many years there has been a debate about whether you can get meningitis if you go out with a wet head on the street. If we remember that this is an infectious disease, then the disease will not appear simply from cold air. At the same time, such actions reduce the immune defense, which can increase the risk of illness in case of contact with a sick person or other infection.

A balanced diet and periodic visits to the doctor will allow you to monitor your health and keep it in good condition.

By following the basic rules of protection and getting vaccinated, you can protect your body from getting meningitis. This is much better than taking a serious risk not only to health, but also to life.

Watch the video:

is an inflammatory process that occurs in the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. In this case, distinguish pachymeningitis (inflammation of the dura mater) and meningitis (inflammation of the soft and arachnoid membranes of the brain).

According to experts, cases of inflammation of the meninges, which are commonly referred to as "meningitis", are more often diagnosed. The causative agents of this disease are a variety of pathogenic microorganisms: viruses, protozoa, bacteria. Most often, children and adolescents, as well as the elderly, get sick with meningitis. Serous meningitis most often affects children in preschool age. Viral meningitis has milder symptoms and course than bacterial meningitis.

Types of meningitis

According to the nature of inflammation in the membranes, as well as changes in the cerebrospinal fluid, meningitis is divided into two types: serous meningitis and purulent meningitis . At the same time, the predominance in the cerebrospinal fluid is characteristic of serous meningitis, and the presence of a larger amount neutrophils - for purulent meningitis.

Also, meningitis is divided into primary and secondary . Primary meningitis occurs without the presence of infectious diseases in the patient's body, and the secondary one manifests itself as a complication of both a general infection and an infectious disease of a specific organ.

If we track the prevalence of the inflammatory process in the meninges, then meningitis is divided into a generalized and limited disease. So, basal meningitis originates in the brain convexital meningitis on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres.

Depending on the speed of onset and further progression of the disease, meningitis is divided into fulminant , spicy (sluggish ), subacute , chronic .

According to etiology, there are viral meningitis , bacterial , fungal , protozoal meningitis .

Clinical picture of meningitis

Diseases that have become chronic sarcomatosis , , toxoplasmosis , leptospirosis , , brucellosis etc.), can serve as a kind of impetus for the development of meningitis.

Infection of the meninges can occur by hematogenous, perineural, lymphogenous, transplacental methods. But basically, the transmission of meningitis is carried out by airborne droplets or by contact. With the contact method of infection, pathogens can get to the membranes of the brain due to the presence of a purulent infection of the middle ear, paranasal sinuses, the presence of pathologies of the teeth, etc. The mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, bronchi, and gastrointestinal tract acts as an entrance gate for infection in meningitis. Getting into the body in this way, the pathogen spreads by the lymphogenous or hematogenous route to the meninges of the brain. Clinical manifestations of meningitis are accompanied by the presence of an inflammatory process in the meninges and adjacent brain tissue, microcirculation disorders in the cerebral vessels. Due to too strong secretion of cerebrospinal fluid and its slow resorption, normal levels may be disturbed. and dropsy of the brain appears.

The manifestation of pathological changes in purulent meningitis, which is acute, does not depend on the pathogen. After the pathogen penetrates the membranes of the brain through the lymph or blood, the inflammatory process affects the entire subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord. If the infection zone has a clear localization, then the purulent inflammatory process may be limited.

When infected, there is swelling of the membranes and the substance of the brain. Sometimes there is a flattening of the cerebral convolutions due to the presence of an internal . In patients with serous viral meningitis, edema of the membranes and brain substance is observed, while the cerebrospinal fluid spaces expand.

Symptoms of meningitis

Regardless of the etiology of the disease, the symptoms of meningitis are usually similar in different forms of the disease.

So, the symptoms of meningitis fail with general infectious signs: the patient has a feeling of chills, fever, fever, signs of inflammation in the peripheral blood (increase, presence leukocytosis ). In some cases, skin rashes may appear. In the early stages of meningitis, a patient may experience a slow heart rate. Not in the process of developing meningitis, this sign replaces. A person's breathing rhythm is disturbed and becomes more frequent.

As a meningeal syndrome, nausea and vomiting, fear of light, skin hyperesthesia, the presence of stiff neck muscles and other signs are manifested. In this case, the symptoms of meningitis are first manifested by a headache, which becomes more intense as the disease progresses. The manifestation of a headache provokes irritation of pain receptors in the membranes of the brain and in the vessels due to the development of inflammation, exposure to a toxin and an increase in intracranial pressure. The nature of the pain is bursting, the pain can be very intense. At the same time, pain can be localized in the forehead and in the occipital region, giving to the neck and spine, even sometimes affecting the limbs. Even at the very beginning of the disease, the patient may experience vomiting and nausea, while these phenomena are not associated with food. Meningitis in children, and in more rare cases in adult patients, may be manifested by convulsions, the presence of delirium, psychomotor agitation. But in the process of further development of the disease, these phenomena are replaced by a general stupor and. In the later stages of the disease, these phenomena sometimes turn into a coma.

Due to irritation of the membranes of the brain, reflex muscle tension is observed. Most often, the patient has Kernig's sign and stiff neck. If the patient's illness is severe, then other signs of meningitis appear. So, the patient throws his head back, draws in his stomach, straining the anterior abdominal wall. In this case, in the supine position, the legs will be pulled to the stomach (the so-called meningeal position). In some cases, the patient manifests zygomatic ankylosing spondylitis , severe soreness of the eyeballs, which manifests itself after pressure or when moving the eyes. The patient reacts badly to strong noise, loud noises, pungent odors. Best of all, in this state, a person feels lying in a dark room without movement and with his eyes closed.

Meningitis in infants is manifested by tension and protrusion of the fontanel, as well as the presence of Le Sage's "suspension" symptom.

With meningitis, manifestations of venous hyperemia, edema of the optic nerve head are possible. If the disease is severe, then signs of meningitis may be dilated pupils, diplopia, . It is difficult for a person to swallow, paralysis of the limbs, poor coordination of movements, and the presence of tremors are possible. These symptoms of meningitis indicate damage to both the membranes and the substance of the brain. This is possible in the last stage of the disease.

Bacterial meningitis usually has an acute onset with severe meningeal symptoms. Slower development is characteristic only for tuberculous meningitis . In most cases of bacterial meningitis, sugar levels are low and protein levels are high.

In older people, the course of meningitis may be atypical. So, headaches may be absent or slightly manifested, but at the same time, trembling of the hands, feet, and head is observed. There is drowsiness.

Diagnosis of meningitis

As a rule, the diagnosis of "meningitis" is established, guided by the presence of three signs of meningitis:

- the presence of a general infectious syndrome;
- the presence of shell (meningeal) syndrome;
- inflammatory changes in the cerebrospinal fluid.

At the same time, it is impossible to diagnose meningitis, guided by the presence of only one of these syndromes. For the correct diagnosis, the results of a number of virological, bacteriological research methods are important. Diagnosis of meningitis is also carried out by visual examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. In this case, the specialist without fail takes into account the general epidemiological situation and the features of the clinical picture.

Patients who show signs of meningeal irritation should have a lumbar puncture. During this procedure, cerebrospinal fluid is removed for later examination using a thin needle that is inserted into the lower back. The current state is also determined , the presence of a large number of cells ( pleocytosis ), as well as how much their composition has changed. Special tests are also used to distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis.

Treatment of meningitis

In the treatment of meningitis, it is very important, first of all, to determine which pathogen provoked the development of the disease. However, this disease should be treated exclusively in a hospital setting. Viral meningitis, as a rule, proceeds relatively easily, so the patient is strongly advised to drink plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration of the body. Analgesics and antipyretics are used to treat meningitis. Generally, a person recovers in about two weeks.

With bacterial meningitis, especially if it is provoked, treatment should be prescribed and performed very urgently. If a patient is diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, then broad-profile antibiotics are mainly used for treatment. The most commonly used drug for this form of the disease is . According to researchers, this tool can destroy about 90% of the pathogens of meningitis. Also, immediate treatment with penicillin is prescribed for patients diagnosed with purulent meningitis.

Also, for the treatment of meningitis in children and adults, drugs are used that can reduce intracranial pressure, drugs with antipyretic effects. Often in complex therapy, nootropic drugs are also prescribed, , drugs that stimulate the activity of cerebral blood flow.

It is important to consider that if adults who have recovered from meningitis do not always need constant further monitoring by doctors, then meningitis in children is a reason to visit a doctor regularly even after a complete cure.

It is important for patients who are in the recovery stage to avoid strenuous physical and emotional exertion, not to be in direct sunlight for too long, not to drink a lot of fluids and try to consume as little salt as possible. Alcohol should be excluded altogether.

The doctors

Medications

Prevention of meningitis

To date, vaccination against certain pathogens of meningitis (vaccine against pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae) has been successfully used. It is important to consider that vaccination gives a rather tangible effect in terms of protection against meningitis, but does not guarantee one hundred percent prevention of infection. However, even if infected with the disease, the person who was vaccinated will get meningitis in a much milder form. After vaccination valid for three years.

It is important as a method of preventing meningitis to adhere to the basic rules of everyday hygiene. It is important to pay special attention to regular hand washing, personal items (lipstick, dishes, toothbrush, etc.) should not be given to strangers for use. In case of close contact with a patient with meningitis, it is important to immediately consult a doctor. The specialist may prescribe certain medications for prevention.

Complications of meningitis

Bacterial meningitis can cause brain damage in humans. So, the most severe complications of this disease are deafness, mental retardation with meningitis in children. If you do not start the correct and timely treatment of meningitis, the disease can cause death. In severe cases, death occurs within hours.

List of sources

  • E. I. Gusev, G. S. Burd, A. N. Konovalov. Neurology and neurosurgery. - 2000.
  • Lobzin Yu.V., Pilipenko V.V., Gromyko Yu.N. Menigitis and encephalitis. St. Petersburg: Foliant, 2001.
  • Khaitov R.M., Ignatieva G.A., Sidorovich I.G. Immunology. - M.: Medicine, 2001.
  • Lobzina Yu.V., Kazantseva A.P. Guide to Infectious Diseases. - St. Petersburg: Comet, 1996.