Meningitis

Subject: Midwifery III (Theory)

Overview

Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis most usually affects children aged 1-3 years. Meningitis symptoms, such as a headache, fever, and stiff neck, are frequently triggered by the swelling linked with the illness. The signs and symptoms can appear in anyone beyond the age of two. Acute bacterial meningitis occurs when germs enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain and spinal cord. Fungal meningitis, which causes persistent meningitis, is relatively uncommon. It has been known to match acute bacterial meningitis on rare occasions. The type of meningitis influences the treatment. Meningitis can be avoided by treating infections including sinusitis, mastoiditis, and ear infections.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord (meninges). Bacterial meningitis is most frequent in children aged 1-3 years.

The swelling associated with meningitis frequently precipitates the condition's signs and symptoms, which include a headache, fever, and stiff neck.

Symptoms

The following signs and symptoms may arise in anyone over the age of two:

  • High fever that appears unexpectedly
  • A strong headache that cannot be confused with other types of headaches.
  • Tense neck
  • Vomiting or nausea along with a headache
  • Perplexity or trouble concentrating
  • Seizures
  • Insomnia or trouble waking up
  • Light sensitivity
  • A lack of desire to drink or eat
  • Skin rash can occur in some circumstances, such as meningococcal meningitis.

Causes

Meningitis is typically caused by a viral infection, although it can also be caused by a bacterial infection. A fungal infection may induce meningitis in rare cases.

Fungal meningitis is a rare condition that causes persistent meningitis. It can occasionally mimic acute bacterial meningitis. This type of meningitis, on the other hand, is not infectious from person to person. Cryptococcal meningitis is a prevalent fungal form of the disease that affects patients with immunological weaknesses, such as those suffering from AIDS. If not treated with antifungal medicine, it might be fatal.

  1. Bacterial meningitis
    Acute bacterial meningitis is typically caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and migrating to the brain and spinal cord.

    A variety of bacteria strains can cause acute bacterial meningitis. The most frequent are:
    • Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcus).
    • Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus).
    • Haemophilus influenzae (Haemophilus).
       
  2. Viral meningitis

    Viruses cause more cases of meningitis than bacteria do each year. Viral meningitis is typically mild and resolves on its own. The majority of viral meningitis infections in the United States are caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses.

  3. Fungal meningitis

Risk Factors

  • Skipping vaccinations: The risk of meningitis is increased if you or your kid have not completed the recommended childhood or adult vaccination schedule.
  • Age: The majority of viral meningitis cases occur in children under the age of five. Bacterial meningitis is more common in people under the age of 20, particularly those who live in communities.
  • Living in a community setting: Meningococcal meningitis is more common among college students living in dorms, military personnel on bases, and children in boarding schools and child care institutions.
  • Pregnancy: If you're pregnant, you're more likely to have listeriosis, an infection caused by listeria bacteria that can lead to meningitis.
  • Compromised immune system: Factors that can weaken your immune system, such as AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes, and the use of immunosuppressive medicines, can make you more susceptible to meningitis.

Tests and Diagnosis

  • Blood cultures: Blood is extracted from a vein and transferred to a laboratory where it is placed on a specific dish to examine if germs, mainly bacteria, develop.
  • Imaging: Swelling or inflammation of the head, chest, or sinuses may be shown by X-rays or computerized tomography (CT) scans.
  • Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): The study of your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is taken during a technique known as a spinal tap, is required for a conclusive diagnosis of meningitis.

Treatments and Drugs

  1. Bacterial meningitis
    To assure recovery and limit the danger of complications, such as brain swelling and convulsions, acute bacterial meningitis requires rapid treatment with intravenous antibiotics and, more recently, corticosteroid medicines.
     
  2. Viral meningitis
    Antibiotics cannot treat viral meningitis, and most cases resolve on their own within a few weeks. Mild cases of viral meningitis are frequently treated with:
  • Rest in bed and drink plenty of fluids
  • Over-the-counter pain relievers can assist lower fever and body discomfort

Prevention

  • Adequate infection therapy, such as sinusitis, mastoiditis, and ear infection.
  • During all intracranial procedures, rigorous aseptic techniques are used.
  • When dressing, use stringent aseptic methods.
  • Antibiotics for prophylaxis following head trauma.
  • If fever or other signs and symptoms of meningitis develop, the patient should be closely monitored and evaluated right away.
Things to remember
  • Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord (meninges). Bacterial meningitis is most frequent in children aged 1-3 years.
  • The swelling associated with meningitis frequently precipitates the condition's signs and symptoms, which include a headache, fever, and stiff neck.
  • Sudden high fever, severe headache that isn't easily confused with other types of headache, stiff neck, vomiting or nausea with a headache, confusion or difficulty concentrating, sleepiness or difficulty waking up, and sensitivity to light are all signs and symptoms that can occur in anyone over the age of two.
  • Meningitis is typically caused by a viral infection, although it can also be caused by a bacterial infection. A fungal infection may induce meningitis in rare cases.
  • Acute bacterial meningitis is typically caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and migrating to the brain and spinal cord.
  • Fungal meningitis is a rare condition that causes persistent meningitis.
  • It can occasionally mimic acute bacterial meningitis. This type of meningitis, on the other hand, is not infectious from person to person.
  • Vaccinations are being avoided.
  • The risk of meningitis is increased if you or your kid have not completed the recommended childhood or adult vaccination schedule.
  • The type of meningitis determines the treatment.
  • Meningitis can be avoided by treating infections such as sinusitis, mastoiditis, and ear infections.
Questions and Answers

An inflammation of the meninges—the membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord—is known as meningitis. Children aged 1-3 years old are most frequently affected by bacterial meningitis. Headache, fever, and stiff neck are among the signs and symptoms of meningitis that are frequently brought on by the condition's swelling.

The signs and symptoms that may occur in anyone older than age of 2 includes:

  • - A strong headache that can't be mistaken for another sort of headache
  • A sudden high fever
  • A stiff neck
  • Nausea or vomiting together with a headache
  • Dizziness or trouble concentrating
  • Seizures
  • Lack of interest in eating and drinking
  • Drowsiness
  • Difficulty waking up
  • Sensitivity to light
  • In some situations, a skin rash, such as in meningococcal meningitis

Causes

The most common cause of meningitis is a viral infection, however bacterial infections can also be to blame. A fungus infection can less frequently result in meningitis.

  • Bacterial meningitis
    • When bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain and spinal cord, acute bacterial meningitis typically results.
    • Acute bacterial meningitis can be brought on by a variety of bacterial strains. The most prevalent ones are:
      • Haemophilus influenzae,
      • Neisseria meningitides,
      • Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), (Haemophilus).
  • Viral meningitis
    More cases of meningitis are brought on by viruses than by bacteria each year. The majority of the time, viral meningitis is mild and resolves on its own. The majority of viral meningitis infections in the US are caused by a family of viruses called enteroviruses.
  • Fungal meningitis
    Chronic meningitis is brought on by fungus meningitis, which is relatively uncommon. Sometimes it can seem exactly like acute bacterial meningitis. This specific type of meningitis, however, is not contagious. People with immune deficiencies, such as AIDS, are susceptible to the common fungal form of the disease known as cryptococcal meningitis. If you don't take an antifungal medication to treat it, it could be fatal.

Risk factors

  • Neglecting immunizations. The risk of meningitis is higher if you or your child haven't finished the prescribed childhood or adult vaccination schedule.
  • Age. The majority of viral meningitis cases involve youngsters under the age of five. People under the age of 20 are frequently affected by bacterial meningitis, especially those who reside in communal situations.
  • Residing in a communal environment. Meningococcal meningitis is more common among dorm-dwelling college students, military personnel, and kids in boarding schools and daycare centers.
  • Being pregnant You are more likely to develop listeriosis, an infection brought on by the listeria bacterium that can also result in meningitis, if you are pregnant.
  • Immune system compromise. You are more vulnerable if you have conditions that can weaken your immune system, such as AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes, and the use of immunosuppressant medications.

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