Meningitis: symptoms and treatment, causes

Meningitis – infectious disease characterized by acute form of the disease, during which there is inflammation of the membranes of the brain. It is customary to divide the disease into two forms, the type starters, the first is the primary meningitis, in this case kill immediately covers the brain, and secondary, the disease is the result of another infection, the focus of which may be located anywhere in the body.

Causes of meningitis

The basis of the origin of the lies meningitis meningococcal disease, and the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. In addition, the cause of meningitis may be hemophilic Bacillus, tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Another cause of the disease can be a viral infection, and the "leader" here is an enterovirus. In addition, the development of meningitis are not uncommon on the background of chickenpox, rubella or measles.

Secondary meningitis may be due to infection from boils on the face or neck directly to the brain. Otitis media, sinusitis, osteomyelitis, which attacks the bones of the skull – can also be the cause of secondary meningitis.

Symptoms of meningitis

Immediately is to say that the vast majority of all cases meningitis develops in an acute form.

A rare exception is meningitis, which develops on the background of tuberculosis, in this case, the disease may be practically no symptoms for several months.

The first symptoms can fool people, as the coincide with the symptoms of colds and symptoms with severe intoxication:

• General weakness throughout the body, aches in the joints.
• May experience muscle pain.
• There is always high temperature to 40 C.

In case of acute meningitis manifested by a severe headache, which is not localized in a particular part of the head. Judging by the feelings of many patients, the headache just covers the whole head. Along with the development of meningitis increased headache, and the pain is almost unbearable, but pain increases with any movement of his head, in bright light or loud sound. Along with the pain can be diagnosed and not clarity of awareness of what is happening.

The next manifestation of the development of meningitis acts as nausea and severe vomiting, and after emptying the stomach, comes relief and retching continue.

You should pay attention to the condition of the skin, as primary meningitis if the cause acts as meningococcal disease, is always accompanied by the appearance of characteristic lesions on the skin.

If the form of meningitis is light, there are small dark redrash, who in a few days entirely disappear. And if the form of acute, rashes and bruises is presented in large form and are not lost from the skin surface within a week.

With the defeat of the cranial nerves and meningitis can also lead to this problem, the patient can begin the process of the development of strabismus.

Standard symptoms should also emphasize the tension in the neck, which is always present at the beginning of the meningitis.

In addition, to determine that the symptoms fit exactly to the meningitis helps easy manipulation – trying to incline the head to the chest and straightening the legs at the knees, the patient experiences severe pain.

Symptoms in a child

All the symptoms of meningitis in children completely the same as that of an adult, but a child cannot always explain their feelings.

The biggest problem, when the disease affects the infant. Here, parents must pay attention to the manifestation of the constant anxiety of the child.

In children 2 to 10 years the first signs of the development of meningitis can be severe irritability with fever. It is possible to observe also the appearance of a rash on the feet and on mucous membranes.

It can be faster to react to the first symptoms and seek medical help. The result of treatment depends on how quickly it started, and of course, that the treatment of the child should be strictly in the hospital and not at home.

Treatment

Meningitis in children and adults requires treatment only in a hospital environment in a medical facility. In the treatment the use of antibiotics based on penicillin.

This type of drugs helps reduce intracranial pressure and eliminate the symptoms of intoxication.

In addition, use of piracetam nootropil and to restore the function of nerve cells and blood vessels, and the third group of drugs, which may include hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone, kenalog, dexamethasone relieves inflammation of the membranes of the brain.