Sinusitis

What is meningitis and how. Meningitis: etiology, symptomatic complex, types of diagnostic methods

“Don’t go without a hat - you’ll get meningitis!” Who among us did not have to listen to this kind of “horror stories” as a child? In fact, the mechanism of infection with this disease is much more complex and just wearing a warm hat cannot protect you from it. Let's say more: you can get meningitis even in the summer at sea, and massive outbreaks of this disease occur more often in tropical countries than in regions with a harsh climate.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which is fatal in 10% of cases. The human brain and spinal cord consists of three membranes: soft, arachnoid and hard. If an inflammatory process begins in any of them (or all at once), they speak of meningitis. Inflammation of the dura mater of the brain is called pachymeningitis. With leptomeningitis, the soft and arachnoid membranes are affected, and panmeningitis is an inflammatory process in all three layers. But most often, doctors diagnose inflammation in the soft membranes of the brain.

Thus, everyone should know how and why meningitis occurs, whether it is contagious, whether it is possible to get it again, and who is most susceptible to inflammation of the meninges.

Types of meningitis

It is generally accepted that Hippocrates was the first to describe the symptoms of meningitis, and then medieval healers. So humanity has known about this disease for a very long time. But for many years, tuberculosis and consumption were mistakenly believed to be the cause of inflammation of the meninges, and before the discovery of antibiotics, 95 out of 100 patients died from meningitis. Nowadays, treating meningitis is also not easy, but thanks to modern knowledge, the survival rate is much higher than several centuries ago.

However, for therapy to be effective, you first need to understand what type of meningitis you will have to fight. And this disease is very “many-sided” in origin and nature, therefore, in the international classification of diseases (ICD 10), each type is assigned its own code and definition, and specialists use different methods to systematize the disease.

According to the nature of inflammation, meningitis occurs:

purulent;
serous.

In the first case, the disease is caused by meningococcal bacteria, is very severe, and is caused by a primary septic process. The second type is of viral origin. This variety is considered not as dangerous as purulent and is less likely to cause complications.

By origin, meningitis is divided into:

primary (independent disease);
secondary (appears as a complication of sinusitis, otitis, respiratory infections, osteomyelitis of the skull bones, caries, boils on the face or neck, tonsillitis, sometimes occurs against the background of diseases such as tuberculosis, mumps, syphilis).

Classification by pathogen:

bacterial;
fungal;
viral;
protozoan;
mixed.

According to the nature of the flow:

lightning (fulminant);
spicy;
subacute;
chronic;
recurrent.

By localization of inflammation:

total;
basal (affects the deep parts of the brain);
spinal (affects the spinal cord);
convexital (affects the superficial brain).

According to severity:

mild;
moderately heavy;
heavy.

In addition, there is non-infectious meningitis. This is a type of aseptic meningitis, that is, a disease caused by anything other than bacteria that usually causes acute meningitis - non-infectious diseases, drugs or vaccines. Overall, these causes of meningitis are uncommon. Most often, doctors diagnose cases of viral, bacterial, secondary purulent and fungal meningitis. Moreover, the bacterial (meningococcal) variety of the disease is more common among children under 5 years of age, and the fungal type is more common among pregnant women, patients after chemotherapy, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency. Bacterial, also known as purulent, meningitis can affect even babies under one year old, and viral (serous) meningitis usually appears in children after mumps or due to ECHO. The viral form is not as dangerous for children as the purulent form, since it is easier to treat and less likely to cause complications.

Causes of infection

In many clinical cases, meningitis manifests itself as a seasonal disease. But contrary to popular belief, hypothermia cannot be considered its main cause. Statistics indicate that more cases of infection occur in the warm season, as well as in countries with temperate climates. However, experts also record surges in the spread of the disease in the off-season. This is facilitated by several factors: increased humidity and decreased air temperature outside, seasonal hypovitaminosis, as well as longer stays in poorly ventilated areas. Not long ago, scientists noticed another cyclical pattern: every 10-15 years, an epidemic of meningitis occurs in the world. For example, in 2017, an epidemic of serous meningitis was recorded in Russia, the cause of which was the enterovirus ECHO30, which came from China.

People with weakened immune systems and children under 5 years of age are most susceptible to the disease (their immune system is still developing, and the blood-brain barrier is characterized by increased permeability). If we analyze the prevalence of the disease between the sexes, then more cases of inflammation in the brain are diagnosed among men (usually at the age of 20-30 years). Also at risk are pregnant women, people with diabetes, gastrointestinal ulcers, AIDS, those suffering from chronic fatigue or people suffering from malnutrition. In the so-called “Third World” countries, the prevalence of meningitis is almost 40 times higher than the European average. It is also interesting that in Europe and Russia, diseases of bacterial etiology are approximately 3 times less common than viral ones. Doctors say the main reason for this is vaccination, which can help prevent the bacterial form of the disease. After vaccination, the body, when faced with a pathogen, will independently protect itself from it.

To protect yourself, first of all, you need to understand that meningitis is a contagious disease. Depending on the species, it can be transmitted in different ways:

airborne (through saliva particles during coughing and sneezing);
fecal-oral (through unwashed hands, fruits and vegetables, contaminated water);
hemocontact (through blood);
lymphogenous (through lymphatic fluid);
placental (from pregnant women to the fetus);
water (when swimming in open reservoirs or pools);
contact and household (through household items, dishes, toys);
through insect bites (mainly in African countries).

In children under 1 year of age, meningitis can be caused by the same reasons as in adults or have other causes. For example, be a consequence of birth trauma, prematurity, damage to the brain or spinal cord, sepsis, disease of the middle ear or nasopharynx. If a woman has meningitis during pregnancy, the risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus is very high, and this can lead to developmental disorders of the child. In most cases, meningitis during pregnancy ends in spontaneous abortion or intrauterine fetal death. But even if the fetus survives, doctors usually advise women to terminate their current pregnancy.

Variants of the course of meningitis

Meningitis is most dangerous for children under 5 years of age. Sadly, every 20 baby diagnosed with inflammation of the meninges dies. The most dangerous form of infant meningitis is considered to be a disease caused by streptococcal infection. Infection usually occurs during the baby's passage through the mother's birth canal. In this case, the disease develops at lightning speed and the child either dies within the first month of life or suffers serious developmental disorders. A complicated form of meningitis is no less dangerous for children. And already at the age of 1 to 5 years, children more often suffer from viral meningitis, which usually goes away more easily than bacterial meningitis.

The course of the disease consists of three periods: incubation, prodromal and the disease itself. The incubation period is the time from the moment the virus enters the body until the first symptoms of the disease appear. At this time, viruses or bacteria are contained in the body in small quantities, and therefore cause almost imperceptible harm. Depending on the type of disease, the incubation period can last from several minutes (rapid development) to several years (chronic inflammation). The duration of the incubation period also depends on the state of the patient’s immune system: the weaker it is, the faster the disease manifests itself. Most often, the incubation period lasts from 1 to 10 days. If the disease was diagnosed in the first two days after infection, then the chances of cure reach 95%.

The fulminant, or fulminant, form of meningitis is the most dangerous. With this form, all stages of the disease pass almost instantly, and death is possible within the first day. Acute meningitis also occurs according to an “accelerated” program: as a rule, 3 days are enough for the infection to reach its peak or even cause the death of the patient.

Purulent meningitis can enter the prodromal stage (the time when classic symptoms of the disease appear) within a few hours after bacteria enter the body. Acute bacterial inflammation progresses very quickly. If the disease was caused by Neisseria meningitidis, the patient may die within a few hours after infection. Against the background of this type of disease, bilateral hemorrhagic adrenal infarction (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome) is possible. And the disease caused by the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae, or hemophilic meningitis, is more common in countries where vaccination against hemophilia is not carried out.

If we are talking about the acute period of the disease, then it usually develops from several days to several weeks, and chronic meningitis manifests itself no earlier than 4 weeks after infection. In addition, while most forms of inflammation in the brain occur rather quickly, chronic meningitis can drag on for even more than 25 years. In this case, the disease develops gradually, and it is almost impossible to determine when the infection entered the body.

Sometimes inflammation of the meninges returns even after successful treatment. Relapse can be caused by viruses, bacteria or non-infectious factors. The most common cause of recurrent disease is herpes simplex virus type 2 (Mollare meningitis). Bacterial meningitis can recur due to congenital or acquired defects of the base of the skull or spine.

Symptoms

The insidiousness of meningitis lies in its rapid development. Medicine knows of cases where death occurred just a few hours after the onset of the acute period of the disease. In the classic version, the incubation stage of meningitis in most cases lasts from 4 days to a week. If the disease is recognized in time, the patient has a chance of recovery. And for this you need to know the first symptoms of the disease. However, in most cases, the signs accompanying the onset of meningitis are not perceived by the patient as an alarming signal; the disease is manifested by general infectious symptoms: the patient experiences a feeling of chills, fever, increased body temperature, and in some cases, skin rashes may appear.

The main symptom of meningitis is headache, which becomes more intense as the disease progresses. The nature of the pain is bursting, the pain can be very intense. In this case, the pain can be localized in the forehead and occipital region, radiating to the neck and spine. Bursting pain is associated with increased intracranial pressure as a result of the action of pathogen toxins. The pain syndrome intensifies when moving the head, as well as due to loud sounds and bright lights. Another sign that is important for differentiating the nature of a headache is rigidity (strong tension) of the neck muscles. Patients with meningitis (adults and children) do not lie in the usual position on their back. To ease the pain, they turn on their side, tuck their knees to their stomach and instinctively throw their head back.

Inflammation of the membranes of the brain is in many cases accompanied by nausea and severe vomiting. Moreover, the gag reflex does not stop even with a complete refusal of food. In addition, the patient’s body temperature rises (intermittently or remains consistently high at 39-40 degrees) and is not controlled by traditional antipyretics, severe weakness and sweating appear. The patient complains of intolerance to bright light, which worsens the headache. The presence of meningitis can also be suspected in cases where a bursting headache is accompanied by a disturbance of consciousness (a person answers questions slowly and with difficulty or does not respond to requests at all). Mental disorders indicating inflammation of the membranes of the brain can manifest as hallucinations, apathy or aggression. The patient may experience leg and/or arm cramps, muscle pain, and squint (if the inflammation has spread to the optic nerves).

In addition to the classic ones, specific signs will help to recognize meningitis in young children: Kernig’s sign and the upper Brudzinski’s sign. In the first case, a child lying on his back with his legs raised will not be able to straighten them at the knee joints. The second symptom is also determined in the supine position. If the baby, raising his head, involuntarily bends his knees, this may also indicate inflammation in the meninges. To identify the disease in infants, the fontanel is examined: its swelling and tension are an alarming signal. Another sign of inflammation of the meninges in children is a rash, which is then replaced by specific bright burgundy spots that appear all over the baby’s body.

Diagnostics

An experienced doctor can suspect a patient has meningitis based on external clinical signs. But it is too early to make an accurate diagnosis based only on symptoms. Moreover, it is important not only to confirm or deny the presence of the disease, but also to determine its type and stage of development. To do this, the patient will have to undergo a comprehensive examination. In such cases, patients donate blood for a general analysis (CBC), a general urinalysis and a smear from the pharynx mucosa. One of the main confirmatory tests is spinal cord puncture and laboratory diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Since the brain and spinal cord are in constant contact, clouded cerebrospinal fluid is always considered as the main marker of meningitis.

If during a puncture there are signs of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure (cerebrospinal fluid flows out in a trickle or in frequent drops), experts regard this as one of the laboratory signs of meningitis. In addition, the color of the cerebrospinal fluid in a sick person changes: it becomes cloudy white or yellowish-green. Not only a cerebrospinal fluid analysis, but also a blood test can also tell about the disease. In the presence of the disease, an increased number of lymphocytes or neutrophils is observed. The patient's sugar and chloride levels also typically increase.

Differential diagnosis of the disease is based on biochemical analysis of the cellular composition of the cerebrospinal fluid. To establish the causative agent of the disease, they resort to bacteriological and bacterioscopic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid to determine the causative agent of the disease. Using serodiagnosis, the presence of antigens and antibodies to various pathogens in the patient’s body is determined.

Approximate test results for meningitis

Indicators	Liquor is normal	Viral meningitis	Bacterial	Purulent
Color/transparency	No color/transparent		Colorless/transparent or opalescent	Whitish or greenish-brown/cloudy
Pressure	130-180 mm water. Art.	200-300 mm water. Art.	250-500 mm water. Art.	Increased
Rate of cerebrospinal fluid flow during puncture (drops/min.)	40-60	60-90	Trickle	Rare viscous drops
Cytosis (cells/µl)	2-8	20-800	200-700 (sometimes 800-1000)	More than 1000
Lymphocytes	90-95%	80-100%	40-60%	0-60%
Neutrophils	3-5%	0-20%	20-40%	40-100%
Sedimentary reactions	–	+ (++)	+++ (++++)	+++ (++++)
Dissociation	No	Low cell-protein (protein-cell after 8-10 days)	Moderately high cytosis and protein (then protein-cell dissociation)	High cellular protein
	1,83-3,89	More than 3.89	Significantly reduced	Moderately reduced
Chlorides (mmol/l)	120-130	More than 130	Significantly reduced	Moderately reduced
Fibrin film	Not formed	In 3-5%	In 30-40%	Coarse, often in the form of sediment
Reaction to puncture	Causes headache and vomiting	Causes relief, turning point of the disease	Causes significant but short-term relief	Moderate short-term relief

The results of a blood test will reveal neutrophilia or lymphocytosis, indicating the nature of the disease, as well as the ESR indicator - erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which in high values indicates the presence of an inflammatory process. In addition to laboratory examination of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, the doctor will definitely need the patient’s medical history, he will conduct a thorough neurological examination, and suggest a computer or magnetic resonance imaging scan. Using an MRI or CT scan, a specialist will be able to examine the condition of the meninges and find the source of inflammation. During a conversation with the patient, the doctor will ask how long ago the headaches began, and whether the patient has been bitten by ticks or mosquitoes (carriers of the pathogen, particularly in Africa and Central Asia).

If suspicions of meningitis were detected in a child, then before sending the baby for a puncture, he should be examined by an ENT specialist, a neurologist, a neurosurgeon and a hematologist in order to exclude other possible causes of the malaise.

Treatment

Any inflammatory processes in the body are very serious. And if the inflammation occurs in the brain, then there can be no talk of any self-medication at home. Neither traditional methods nor alternative medicine can replace the necessary drug therapy. Meningitis should only be treated by a doctor and only in a hospital. The sooner a patient seeks help from a specialist, the higher his chances of survival.

The doctor can draw up a comprehensive treatment program only after receiving the results of the patient’s examinations. Meanwhile, in the case of meningitis, when the clock is ticking, not a minute can be lost. As an emergency treatment, all patients with suspected meningitis are prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics. At the beginning of treatment, the doctor may prescribe drugs from the group of penicillins, cephalosporins, and macrolides. This will neutralize the bacteria that cause purulent meningitis. For antibiotics to start working immediately, the medicine is usually administered intravenously (drip), and in very severe cases - directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment of serous meningitis is carried out with the additional use of antiviral drugs. In addition to specific antibacterial or antiviral therapy selected for sensitivity, patients are prescribed nootropic and vascular drugs - Nootropil, Piracetam or their analogues are taken to restore nerve cells and the condition of blood vessels. As anti-inflammatory drugs, doctors provide hormonal therapy to patients with drugs such as Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Methylprednisolone or Hydrocortisone.

Diuretic therapy is also used in the treatment regimen for meningitis. Diuretic medications are needed to relieve brain swelling.

Regardless of the form and stage of meningitis, children and adults are always prescribed vitamins and minerals. These substances are necessary to maintain immunity, which is always reduced during brain inflammation, as well as to restore the supply of nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the patient’s systems and organs.

Prevention

The question of whether it is possible to become infected with meningitis interests many. But other problems are no less pressing: how to protect yourself from the disease and are there any vaccinations against brain inflammation? Meningitis is a contagious disease. But even if a child or adult is surrounded by a patient with inflammation of the meninges, one should not take this fact as a sentence of imminent infection. Meanwhile, protection should be taken care of in advance.

One of the most effective measures to prevent bacterial meningitis is vaccination against pathogens. Nowadays, vaccines against meningitis come in three types: protein, polysaccharide and conjugate. In each group of vaccines, there are drugs that are most suitable for different age categories. Which vaccine to choose for an adult or a child, and how often to vaccinate, should be determined by the attending physician.

Vaccination is, although not 100 percent, still a good guarantee that a healthy person will not become infected.

To protect yourself or your child from infection with viral meningitis, it is also important to follow the rules of hygiene and Sanitary Regulations, eat only clean fruits and vegetables, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap before each meal. The most common source of meningitis infection in the summer is polluted water bodies. To protect yourself from problems, it is important to avoid swimming and especially not to drink water from them.

An excellent way to prevent meningitis is to avoid contact with an infected person. But if this has already happened, you should undergo a course of chemoprophylaxis. It is also mandatory to disinfect the premises where the patient was, and monitor contact persons. If contact with a carrier of infection is inevitable (for example, someone in the household is sick), respirators or gauze dressings must be used to prevent infection by airborne droplets. Remember: the infection first enters the upper respiratory tract of a person, settling on the mucous membranes, and then spreads throughout the body. But infection by airborne droplets does not always occur, but only in cases of reduced immunity and impaired functionality of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances. To prevent infection, family members are prescribed a course of rifampicin and vaccination using a conjugate vaccine. By the way, many people are interested in whether it is possible to get meningitis again. As a rule, this does not happen, but the possibility cannot be completely ruled out.

If meningitis was diagnosed on time and treatment was successful, a person has a chance to live a long, fulfilling life. But for everything to be exactly like this, after completing treatment in a hospital, you will have to follow the doctor’s recommendations.

After suffering from meningitis, it is important to continue monitoring with a doctor: it is important to be examined by a neurologist every three months. And so on for at least 2 years. In addition, some restrictions are temporarily imposed on the regime and way of life. It is forbidden to fly on airplanes for at least 6 months after illness. Flight during this period is dangerous because intracranial pressure changes sharply during the flight, which can negatively affect the restoration of liquor dynamics after inflammation of the meninges. Also, doctors do not advise going to the seaside immediately after an illness, especially for children. The temporary ban also applies to sports: after illness, heavy physical activity should be avoided for about 2 years.

You will also have to reconsider your usual diet: give up fatty and fried foods in favor of boiled, stewed, baked or steamed. For meat, give preference to dietary varieties: poultry, and fish. It is useful to eat boiled porridge as a side dish, and heat-treat fruits and vegetables before eating. It is useful to eat low-fat dairy foods; the best drinks are, if not strong. The diet after meningitis completely excludes alcohol.

Physiotherapy during the rehabilitation period should consist of a course of massage, electrophoresis with the use of medications. To restore cognitive functions and coordination, they resort to magnetic and magnetic laser therapy, and use electrosleep. A course of physical therapy will help restore motor function. But for this you need to exercise under the supervision of a physical therapy specialist. To restore range of motion, strength and coordination, occupational therapy is used, and a cognitive program is necessary to restore memory, attention and logical thinking.

Possible complications

Inflammation of the meninges itself is a serious problem. But against the background of this disease, other, no less complex complications are possible.

One of the most common is cerebral edema. As a rule, a critical excess of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates already on the second day of the disease. A complication can be suspected based on several external signs. The patient suddenly loses consciousness, develops shortness of breath, and blood pressure readings either sharply decrease or increase. There are also jumps in heart rate: from severe bradycardia (slow) to tachycardia (rapid). If cerebral edema is not removed in time, death is possible, which usually occurs due to paralysis of the respiratory center.

The second common danger is infectious-toxic shock. It occurs as a result of poisoning of the body by decay products of pathogenic microorganisms. Against the background of this process, the patient’s body temperature usually drops, but intolerance to light and loud sounds increases, and shortness of breath appears. In many cases, infectious-toxic shock occurs along with cerebral edema. The result is coma and death within a few hours.

After suffering from meningitis, the body will need time to recover. Sometimes quite long. If the inflammatory process was caused by meningococcal infection, then there remains a high risk of damage to other organs or entire body systems. Only timely seeking medical help can prevent serious consequences.

Meningitis can cause deafness, paralysis, epilepsy, and hormonal disorders. In children, hydrocephalus, complete deafness or blindness, acute renal failure, developmental delays, and cerebroasthenia are possible. Often, inflammation of the membranes of the brain in children ends in death.

We answer your questions

Do they take you into the army after meningitis?

The question of whether people with meningitis are accepted into the army is of interest to many. Let us say right away that no one with an illness will be taken to the barracks directly, since any inflammation (especially the meninges) should be hospitalized. Workers diagnosed with meningitis are unconditionally given sick leave. If cases of the disease are recorded in a school or kindergarten, the educational institution is closed for quarantine. But what awaits the young man who suffered from meningitis several years ago? If there is documentary evidence of illness, the conscript automatically enters the reserve.

Meanwhile, the issue of compatibility between the army and meningitis is of interest not only to those who have had the disease, but also to healthy conscripts. Can you get meningitis in the army? Theoretically, such a risk exists, as, indeed, in boarding schools, schools, kindergartens, sanatoriums or children's camps. Therefore, to avoid an epidemic, vaccination is carried out. Conscripts should be vaccinated against meningitis approximately 75-80 days before conscription.

Can you die from meningitis?

Any inflammatory process in the body is already a potential danger of death. What can we say then about inflammation of the meninges! But if earlier the survival rate after meningitis was no more than 5-10%, then in our time this figure has increased to around 90. Of course, the risk of death always remains, but in most cases, patients who have had meningitis live a long, fulfilling life.

Take care of your health and be attentive to your body's signals. If you experience any unusual changes in your health, do not delay visiting your doctor. Be aware of the consequences of delaying treatment for meningitis.

2014 – “Nephrology” full-time advanced training courses at the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education “Stavropol State Medical University”.

Headache and high temperature are not always a consequence of an acute respiratory disease, sometimes it is much worse. Inflammatory processes that occur in the membranes of the brain, and in some cases in the membranes of the spinal cord, are called meningitis - symptoms, causes, classification, diagnostic and treatment options for which will be discussed in this article.

So, what kind of disease is meningitis and what causes it? Meningitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). In modern neurology, this disease is, if not the most common, then at least in the leading position.

Shell differences

As the disease progresses, the outer membranes of the brain or spinal cord are damaged. It is noteworthy that the inflammatory process does not penetrate into the brain and does not spread to its cells.

Where this disease comes from is a somewhat incorrect question, since there is no “meningitis virus” in nature. The disease can be caused by various viruses, bacteria or fungi. Moreover, there is such a thing as secondary meningitis, which develops against the background of a concomitant disease. Some doctors believe that the secondary form of the disease is the most dangerous, since it is difficult for the body, already weakened by the primary disease, to fight on two fronts.

The disease is dangerous as it can lead to death. The disease has no age preferences, although young children, due to objective reasons, are more likely to suffer from this disease (weak immunity, fewer resources to fight the infection, etc.).

Types of meningitis

Much to the regret of doctors, meningitis has several varieties. Thus, the classification of the disease consists of more than seven subparagraphs, which in turn significantly complicates the diagnosis and prescription of effective treatment.

So, what types of classification exist:

by etiology;
by origin;
by the nature of the inflammatory process;
downstream;
by the prevalence of the process;
by localization;
according to severity.

By etiology

Classification of a disease by etiology implies the causes of the disease. So, the disease can be:

infectious;
infectious-allergic;
fungal;
traumatic.

Infectious meningitis is a bacterial disease with a mortality rate of 10%. The main pathogens are meningococci, pneumococci and haemophilus influenzae.

Hemophilus influenzae and meningococcal infections in most cases affect young children who are kept indoors in a micro group (kindergartens) for a long period of time. Meningococcal meningitis has fulminant development and a transient course.

Pneumococcal infection is an infectious disease, but can begin as a result of the spread of infection from purulent foci (wounds or abscesses). It is the most dangerous of the two types.

The infectious-allergic type of the disease, as the cause of development, has strong allergic reactions to various things.
As the name implies, the fungal type of disease has a fungal structure. In particular, the disease is characterized by the least rapid progression compared to the infectious type. The development of the disease is provoked by fungi such as Candida and some others. Fungi are transmitted through the digestive system of birds, unwashed fruits, and unpasteurized milk.

Traumatic meningitis can develop in people who have suffered any kind of trauma to the skull, when there is a possibility of infection spreading from the nasal, auditory or other sinuses to the brain.

By origin

By origin, meningitis is:

Bacterial meningitis is a dangerous disease that, if not properly treated, is 100% likely to be fatal. The disease is caused by bacteria (meningococci, streptococcus aureus, enterobacteria, spirochetes, etc.), hence the name.

The viral nature of the disease is easier for humans to tolerate and has better survival rate among patients compared to the bacterial form. The disease is provoked by various viruses, but 80% of cases were caused by enterovirus infection (Coxsackie virus and ECHO).

The mixed form is also a dangerous type of disease because it can contain several types of illness, which complicates the treatment process.

According to the nature of the inflammatory process

There is a complete and incomplete classification based on the nature of inflammation. Full includes:

purulent;
hemorrhagic;
mixed.

Purulent meningitis is an infectious disease. The cause of which is meningococcal or pneumococcal infection. The disease can be primary or secondary.

In the first case, the infection enters the body through airborne droplets or as a result of existing mechanical damage to the skull. In the second case, the development of the disease is due to the presence of a focus of purulent inflammation in the body, and the infection from there enters the brain.

What is the difference between ailments

Serous meningitis is the least dangerous type of disease known. The disease does not cause the death of brain cells and does not lead to irreversible consequences. Children are more often susceptible to this disease.

Hemorrhagic meningitis is characterized by multiple hemorrhages into the pia mater (source - slovariki.org)

Downstream

Based on the nature of the process, the following are distinguished:

spicy;
subacute;
recurrent;
chronic.

The acute type of the disease manifests itself with lightning-fast development and rapid progression. Symptoms appear almost all at once and may increase gradually.

The subacute type is characterized by a slower (up to 5-6 weeks) development of the disease

The chronic type of the disease develops even more slowly, until symptoms appear several years later (the so-called chronicity of symptoms).

The recurrent form of the disease is characterized by a wave-like course. They note either deterioration or improvement of the patient’s condition
According to the prevalence of the process:

According to the prevalence of the process, they distinguish

generalized;
limited.

The generalized form is characterized by the possibility of infection spreading through tissue or lymph, and accordingly, this infection can affect other organs.

Limited, in turn, on the contrary, is limited to one area.

By localization of the inflammatory process

According to localization, meningitis occurs:

convexital;
basal;
diffuse;
local.

Convexital means superficial. That is, the disease occurs on the outside of the lining of the brain.
In turn, the basal type of disease means advanced inflammatory processes. This type of illness is the most dangerous and more difficult to tolerate.

The diffuse type is characterized by damage to the entire plane of the lining of the brain, while the local type, on the contrary, affects a specific area.

Causes of meningitis

In order to understand what meningitis is and what causes it, it is necessary to understand the classification of the disease, since different types can have different causes. However, regardless of the pathogen, there are general conditions that contribute to the development of the disease. So, the cause of the disease may be:

viruses or bacteria that infect the cerebrospinal fluid;
the presence in the body or the recent end of an infectious disease (flu, herpes, mumps, etc.);
using unwashed items after potentially transmitting the virus;
alcohol abuse;
spinal or brain surgery;
head injury;
insect or rodent bites (the bite itself does not mean the transmission of infection, but the formation of a purulent wound at the site of the bite can cause the infection that has developed in it to migrate);
hypothermia of the body;
taking corticosteroid drugs;
presence of renal failure.

The disease can be passed on to a child from the mother during childbirth.

In microgroups there is a greater likelihood of developing such an infection and transmitting it by airborne droplets

How is meningitis transmitted?

The causative agents of meningitis are different, and therefore their routes of transmission are different. Undoubtedly, this disease is contagious and can be transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets or through blood.

There are two options:

Transmission of infection from a sick person to a healthy person.
Transmission of infection from a carrier of the virus (in most cases, the carrier does not even suspect that he has a dangerous disease in his body).

But how exactly is the infection transmitted?

airborne;
fecal-oral;
sexual;
cutaneous.

In addition, you can become infected not only from humans. Some rare forms of the disease can be contracted while swimming in ponds. There is also a possibility of infection through the bite of an insect that can carry the disease.

It should be understood that many sources have poor survival rate in the external environment and die almost instantly when they get there. They are also not susceptible to boiling or exposure to sunlight.

Incubation period of meningitis

To understand how people get meningitis, it is necessary to take into account such a concept as the incubation period.

Incubation period is the period of time from the moment the infection enters the body until the first symptoms appear.

The period without fever and other unpleasant symptoms of the disease for this disease may vary. It is very difficult to track the pattern, since at the initial stage it is not clear what kind of infection has struck the body (an exception may be a secondary type of disease).

Infection under a microscope

On average, this period lasts from 2 to 10 days, but there are some peculiarities.

Dependence of the incubation period on the infectious agent

Entroviruses - 3-8 days (in especially serious cases, up to several hours).
Mumps - up to 3 weeks (on average 10-18 days).
Viral and purulent meningitis have an incubation period of 2 to 4 days, but symptoms usually begin much earlier.

Symptoms of meningitis

The first signs of impending danger are high fever and headache, which is increasing in nature. Is there always a high temperature? Yes, this is the most important symptom. Moreover, usually, it rises for no apparent reason at all, and subsequently the rest of the symptoms appear.

In addition to the above-mentioned manifestations, the following symptoms are characteristic of all types of meningitis:

meningeal symptoms - symptoms characteristic only of meningitis

nausea;
general weakness of the body;
vomit;
increased sensitivity to light and loud sounds;
drowsiness;
loss of consciousness;
convulsive manifestations;
nervous overexcitability;
stiffness of the neck muscles (swelling of the fontanelle in infants);
rash;
delirium;
inhibited reaction;
hallucinations;
chills.

As for children, the manifestation of the disease in them is somewhat different. When it comes to, many symptoms are similar to those of adults.

Clinical picture in adults and children

As for infants, the symptoms of meningitis may include the following:

fever;
convulsive syndromes;
vomiting;
profuse regurgitation;
nervous excitability (the child constantly cries, does not want to sleep);
apathetic state, lethargy;
sudden screams.

In addition, it is possible to develop strabismus and drooping of the upper eyelid. A child's skin may have a bluish tint.

At the site of the fontanel, a venous network is clearly visible

Diagnosis of meningitis

In order to diagnose meningitis, a comprehensive diagnosis of the patient is carried out, which includes a large number of tests and hardware studies.

So, the list of diagnostic procedures:

blood and urine tests;
smear to determine pathogenic flora in the nose and throat cavity;
coagulogram;
HIV test;
liver puncture;
test for syphilis;
cerebrospinal fluid puncture;
computed tomography (CT);
head electroencephalogram (EEG);
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR);
electrocardiogram (ECG);
X-ray of the skull;
examination by an ENT specialist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist and neurologist.

In addition, before conducting this study, the doctor must conduct a survey of the patient to determine the presence of past diseases and general condition, in order to draw a conclusion and make the correct diagnosis.

Treatment of meningitis

Is meningitis curable or not and can this disease be cured? Undoubtedly yes. This disease is classified as curable. Which doctor treats this disease? Infectious disease specialist, despite the fact that the disease affects the nervous system. Since the disease is infectious in nature, it means that it must be treated by a similar specialist.

So, meningitis can only be treated in a hospital setting, since the patient must be constantly under the supervision of a specialist.

Therapy is divided into:

antibacterial;
antiviral;
antifungal;
detoxification;
symptomatic.

Such differences are important because a disease caused by a fungus cannot be treated with drugs for the virus and vice versa. The exception, of course, is interchangeable drugs.

Antibacterial therapy

When treating the bacterial form of meningitis, the patient is in any case recommended to use it. In addition, in the case of serious inflammatory processes, the use of corticosteroid drugs is indicated to reduce inflammation. And to reduce the convulsive effect, tranquilizers are indicated.

The duration of treatment is from 10 to 14 days. Cancellation of antibacterial therapy is possible if body temperature normalizes and symptoms of intoxication disappear. In addition, to determine the patient's condition, he may be prescribed repeated blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests.

It is worth understanding that not every antibiotic is able to overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and since the main inflammatory processes occur precisely behind the BBB, it is worth taking a very responsible approach to the choice of drugs so that treatment is not just for the sake of treatment.

Below is a table with the names of drugs that can and cannot overcome the BBB.

Comparative table of antibiotics that can and cannot cross the BBB

If antibiotics are used, the patient must be prescribed medications to normalize the intestinal microflora in order to avoid intestinal upset. Young children are especially susceptible to this.

Antiviral therapy

Typically, the severe form of viral meningitis occurs in young children and pregnant women. Complications of the disease can even end in death for such patients. Therefore, hospitalization in this case is a mandatory measure.
Unlike the bacterial form of the disease, the viral form is not susceptible to antibiotics and its treatment is more related to the elimination of the symptoms accompanying the disease.

In particular:

To eliminate vomiting - cerucal.
To reduce general intoxication of the body, use a saline solution with prednesone and vitamin C intravenously.
To eliminate headaches - lumbar puncture or diuretics.
to reduce temperature - antipyretic drugs based on paracetamol.
to eliminate pain in the head - papaverine and similar medicine.

In addition, it is mandatory to carry out therapy to increase immunity (Interferon, etc.), antiviral therapy (Arbidol, etc.).

Antifungal therapy

One of the most dangerous types of disease is fungal meningitis. Previously, before the discovery of the drug Amphoterecin B, the disease showed almost 100% mortality. After starting to use the above-mentioned medicine, these statistics changed. Moreover, in the case of complex therapy along with a drug such as fluconazole, survival rates increased even more.

Treatment of this form of the disease is the most protracted and can last up to a year until the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid returns to normal.

The danger of the disease is that even after the end of therapy, a relapse is possible.

Detoxification therapy

Regardless of the type of meningitis, the patient will always experience intoxication of the body. Therefore, in any case, the doctor will prescribe detoxification therapy.

This type of treatment consists of administering an intravenous solution that reduces intoxication. In particular, this solution includes a saline solution with the mandatory addition of vitamin C and prednesalone.

Symptomatic treatment

This type of therapy is associated with the presence of a fairly wide range of symptoms in the patient, which cannot always be relieved with a standard set of drugs. That is why symptomatic treatment is prescribed. In addition, the sudden development of some unpleasant complication, in the form of severe vomiting or loss of consciousness, is possible. In such a situation, there is no time to wait for the doctor and listen to his recommendations. Medical staff in a hospital independently administer a medicine intended to eliminate a particular symptom.

Forecast

The consequences after suffering an illness can be very different, or there may be none at all. Since during the development of the disease the membranes of the brain and spinal cord are affected, the consequences are associated with neurological manifestations, in particular, the patient may retain:

Headaches.
Hearing and vision impairment.
Epileptic seizures.
Intracranial hypertension.

A fatal outcome cannot be ruled out in the absence of proper therapy or timely assistance for purulent and bacterial meningitis, and in children for its viral forms.

However, in general, the prognosis is quite favorable, since the modern level of medicine allows us to qualitatively eliminate all possible consequences.

Prevention

Hardening the body.
Preventive use of immunostimulating drugs (especially in kindergartens).
Timely treatment of chronic diseases.
Maintaining hygiene.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Regular exercise.

So, meningitis is a serious disease and, in the absence of proper and timely treatment, can even take the patient’s life. Treatment can only take place in a hospital setting and under the supervision of a doctor, so do not self-medicate under any circumstances, as this can be fatal. Take care of yourself and your loved ones, get treated correctly!

Inflammation of the meninges (meminx) is a serious disease that requires close attention and mandatory prevention. The consequences of the illness may be irreversible and even lead to death. Meningitis is especially dangerous in children - a child can lose sight, hearing and remain disabled for life.

Effective treatment depends on several factors:

timely detection of signs of illness and consultation with a doctor;
accurate diagnosis and identification of causes;
the right strategy for therapy, recovery and prevention.

The above aspects present considerable complexity. A primary symptom, such as a severe headache, may be mistakenly associated with other conditions. And to determine the causative agent of meningitis, for example, the fungus with which the virus is transmitted, is often only possible through very complex tests.

Anyone can get a disease called meningitis. There are cases when the meninges become inflamed without an external pathogen. For example, as a consequence of advanced sinusitis. Less commonly observed are phenomena where the disease appears due to a genetic predisposition.

Most often, such a virus is transmitted to a healthy person from a sick person. But it is necessary to note the facts, confirmed by statistics: bacteria, when they enter the body, do not always become active. If a person has good immunity, the virus is blocked.

The following groups of people are most susceptible to infection:

children under five years of age;
teenagers during puberty;
elderly people.

An increased danger comes from being in a crowd for a long time or constantly interacting with a large group of people:

accommodation in dormitories;
daily work in a crowded, cramped room;
frequent trips in crowded transport.

Those who are faced with the above circumstances need to be especially attentive to issues of personal hygiene.

Classification of the disease

The treatment selected by a qualified doctor depends entirely on the type of inflammation. The disease is classified according to three criteria:

cause of occurrence;
speed of development;
flow form.

Inflammation of the meninges can be acute or chronic. In the first case, the disease progresses rapidly and is accompanied by vivid symptoms. In the second case, there are no obvious signs or they look like a cold or poisoning.

In terms of origin, the disease is divided into primary and secondary. And according to etiology - fungal, bacterial or viral.

By the form in which the inflammatory process takes place, it is determined whether a person suffers from serous or purulent meningitis. The second type is considered the most dangerous.

Causes of meningitis

The disease meningitis, as already noted, can be infected, or you can get sick as a result of complications from other ailments, for example, influenza or chronic sinusitis.

But the most common causes of meningitis are viruses. For example, enterovirus: it is usually the causative agent of gastroenteritis, but at the same time it can infect the meninges. Viral inflammation, oddly enough, has the best prognosis. With timely medical care, the patient feels better within 13-14 days.

One of the subtypes of viral meningitis is herpes. If a person’s immune system is weakened, this virus can trigger the onset of a chronic illness.

It is easy to get viral meningitis in a crowded place if you do not follow good personal hygiene (for example, not washing your hands). There have been cases of illness in children and adolescents who spent time in summer camps.

Most often, meningitis appears in children if:

the child was premature;
there were injuries during childbirth;
there were disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

The causes of meningitis in adults have a wider range. There are even such rare cases as disease of the meninges after radiotherapy or chemical intoxication.

A common cause of meningitis is alcoholism. Regular poisoning of the body with alcohol causes damage to the nerves of the brain, after which inflammation of the membranes begins. Treatment of pneumococcal meningitis in such situations is extremely difficult: cirrhosis of the liver prevents antibiotic therapy, and without this there is practically no chance of a complete recovery.

Signs of meningitis in adults and children

The most common symptoms of meningitis include:

high temperature;
photophobia;
weakness and;
painful sensations in the back of the head;
spontaneous vomiting;
rash.

With a bacterial or purulent form of the disease, the first signs of meningitis appear unexpectedly, and the disease develops very quickly. If treatment is not started immediately, the consequences will be disastrous for the patient.

With viral meningitis, symptoms are first observed that resemble a common respiratory disease: a “dull” headache, weakness, high fever, runny nose and possible cough. Next, meningococcal sepsis or nasopharyngitis develops, which causes intoxication of the body and inflammation of the meninges.

In order not to miss the onset of the disease, you should pay special attention to two important symptoms that help distinguish a cold from meningitis:

Headache extends to the back of the head. It is difficult for a person to tilt his head forward. The neck often becomes numb and has difficulty turning to the side. During acute attacks of headache, the eyeballs are so tense that it is almost impossible to move the eyes up, down or sideways.
A characteristic rash appears on the body - red-violet spots. Usually in the armpits or legs, gradually spreading throughout the body. Meningitis rashes may look like large or small stars. In children it is found even on the palms and shoulder blades.

Signs of meningitis in children may vary depending on the individual characteristics of the child: some become lethargic and sleepy, others become too restless. But common symptoms remain a rash, headache and frequent regurgitation. In infants, a tense fontanel is noted.

Signs of meningitis in adults can occur in several “waves”. For example, with viral inflammation, a person may feel a sharp deterioration in health, with nausea and pain in the back of the head. After taking a painkiller and lying in bed for a couple of days, the adult experiences temporary relief and goes back to work.

After a while, the attack resumes, the body becomes covered in a rash, and the temperature rises to 40 degrees. In these cases, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor. At the first signs, it is better to immediately undergo an examination and avoid consequences or complications.

What is the danger

Unfortunately, the mortality statistics from meningitis are quite sad. Treatment started untimely is not always able to prevent death or consequences in the form of mental retardation, loss of vision, hearing or full motor activity.

The symptoms of meningitis are sometimes difficult to recognize in time. Sometimes there is no characteristic rash, which makes the diagnosis of meningitis faster. In addition, people who tend to self-medicate misdiagnose themselves: they think that they have caught a regular flu, take painkillers uncontrollably and only temporarily postpone a serious problem.

The danger of the virus is that it can be very contagious. Meningococcus is quickly transmitted through unwashed hands or utensils. A sick person risks not only his own health, but also the well-being of the people around him.

Diagnosis of meningitis

A meningitis rash makes diagnosing the disease much easier. However, there are cases when this characteristic symptom is not present. Then additional methods of examining the patient are used:

Nasal discharge is analyzed. Testing the fluid may reveal the presence of bacteria such as pneumococcus in the body.
Accurate diagnosis of meningitis is possible by taking a puncture. This is a rather unpleasant procedure. However, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from the lumbar spine allows you to quickly determine the type of meningitis and prescribe adequate treatment.
Testing the patient for the presence of Kernig, Hermann, Brudzinski, etc. symptoms. For example, according to the Kerning system, a patient with meningitis has difficulty straightening the knee while the person is sitting, and the Brudzinski test tests the ability to pull the knees towards the abdomen while trying to pull the chin towards the chest.

Disturbances in the functioning of joints are common consequences of the development of meningitis. But it can be difficult to determine them on your own, without the help of a doctor.

Drug treatment

Treatment methods are selected according to whether meningitis is to be treated in children or adults, at what stage of development the disease is, and whether the process is acute or chronic. And also whether it was possible to detect meningitis in its incubation period.

Treatment also depends on the type of meningitis. For example:

Therapy for meningococcal disease includes taking penicillin, meglumine, mulfanomethoxine and other drugs.
The pneumococcal species is usually treated with ampicillin, kanamycin sulfate and benzylpenicillin sodium salt.
The tuberculous type of meningitis usually requires the use of isoniazid, ethambutol, streptomycin, pyrazinamide and other drugs.

Treatment with antibacterial drugs is selected individually, since the doctor must take into account the patient’s age and individual contraindications. For example, with a weak liver and problem kidneys, strong antibiotics can cause even greater negative consequences.

Almost all patients are prescribed diuretics, as it is important to remove toxins from the body. General strengthening and immune supporting medications are prescribed. Symptomatic treatment is selected to provide relief.

Unfortunately, there is no universal treatment regimen. Too many different factors influence the correct choice of medications. Therefore, it is strictly not recommended to self-medicate or use folk remedies. Only professional help will help avoid the consequences of inflammation.

Prevention of meningitis

It is difficult to argue with the opinion that the most effective treatment is the one that could be minimized. Prevention of infection with meningitis includes simple safety measures that are easy to follow:

Always wash your hands before eating.
Have personal utensils. Do not drink from the same mug with other people.
When in nature, protect yourself from insect bites (which can spread infection).
Monitor the tone of your immune system: give up bad habits, take care of proper nutrition and rest, replenish vitamin reserves during the demi-season periods.
Do not self-medicate. At the slightest suspicion of inflammation of the meninges, you should call a doctor.

A good preventive measure can be vaccination against meningitis. It can be done even for a child from 2 months. Vaccination is usually carried out among children under 4-5 years of age.

Headache with sinusitis and after puncture: treatment methods

Meningitis in medicine is a serious infectious disease in which the membrane of the brain or spinal cord located between the bones and brain becomes inflamed. This pathology occurs due to many reasons and can develop as an independent disease or as a complication of infections. Meningitis is recognized by a number of characteristic symptoms.

This disease is considered very dangerous as it can lead to disability, coma and death. This is why it is important to call emergency help if signs of illness appear. Timely and correct treatment can prevent serious consequences.

The disease is caused by various pathogenic microorganisms - bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Depending on this, there are two forms of meningitis: purulent and serous.

The causative agents of purulent meningitis are the following pathogenic bacteria:

Meningococci
Klebsiella
Pneumococci
Tuberculosis bacillus
Escherichia coli
Haemophilus influenzae

Bacterial meningitis most often occurs in adults.The serous form of the disease (without the development of a purulent process) is provoked by the ECHO virus, enterovirus, Coxsackie virus, mumps or polio viruses, and herpes infection. Viral meningitis is usually observed in childhood.

In addition, meningitis can develop due to a fungus, for example, if there are candida or cryptococci in the body. In some cases, the causative agents of the disease are considered to be protozoan microorganisms - toxoplasma and amoeba.

There is also a mixed form, when the disease develops as a result of several pathogens.

Meningitis can be primary, when it passes as an independent disease, and secondary - its development is characterized as a complication of some kind of infection, for example, measles, syphilis, tuberculosis, mumps. The disease can occur against the background of untreated osteomyelitis, facial boils.Pathology can develop as a result of head injury.

More information about meningitis can be found in the video:

What is Staphylococcus aureus and does it need to be treated?

Factors that influence the development of the pathological condition include:

Weakened immune system.
Poor nutrition.
Chronic forms of diseases.
HIV.
Diabetes mellitus.
Stressful situations.
Hypovitaminosis.
Alcohol abuse.
Drug use.
Frequent hypothermia.
Temperature fluctuation.

Children are at risk of contracting meningitis. This is explained by the fact that in childhood the blood-brain barrier has greater permeability, as a result of which substances enter the brain that do not penetrate in adults.

The disease can be contracted through airborne droplets, contaminated water, and food. Insect and rodent bites are also ways of transmitting infection. In addition, meningitis can be transmitted during childbirth from mother to child. Other ways of infection include sexual intercourse, kissing, and contact with contaminated blood or lymph.

Signs of the disease

Meningitis is characterized primarily by headaches, which vary in nature and intensity. Most often, the headache is constant; in addition, it intensifies when the head is tilted forward, with loud sounds and bright lighting.Another important sign of the development of meningitis is stiffness of the neck muscles. With this phenomenon, it is difficult for patients to bend their head forward; the condition is alleviated by tilting the head back.

Meningitis is characterized by Kernig's symptom - the hip joints and knees cannot straighten in a bent position. Also considered to be a difference in the disease is Brudzinski's sign, in which the legs involuntarily bend when the patient is in a supine position and tilts his head to the chest.

In infants, a characteristic meningeal symptom is the bulging, pulsating and tension of the large fontanel. If you hold a child by the armpits, his head involuntarily tilts back and his legs are pulled towards his stomach. This phenomenon in medicine is called Lesage's symptoms.

Also signs of meningitis are pain that occurs when pressing on the area of the auricle and when tapping the skull.

The disease is also accompanied by other symptoms. These include:

Dizziness
Frequent vomiting, nausea
Hyperthermia
General weakness
Fear of bright light
Sound phobia
Neck numbness
Increased sweating
Strabismus
Pale skin
Neck numbness
Double vision
Muscle pain
Dyspnea
Tachycardia
Sleep disturbance (excessive sleepiness)
Decreased appetite
Feeling thirsty
Convulsions
Decreased pressure
Loss of consciousness
Diarrhea (most often in children)
Feeling of pressure in the eye area
Enlarged lymph nodes
Paresis of facial muscles

In addition to the physical signs of meningitis, mental symptoms are also observed, namely hallucinations, aggressiveness, irritability, and apathy. The patient's level of consciousness noticeably decreases with meningitis.

A dangerous sign of the disease is the appearance of red or pink rashes. This phenomenon indicates sepsis due to meningitis.If such symptoms occur, it is important to seek medical help in time, since the consequences of untimely treatment can be disastrous.

Danger of disease

Meningitis requires mandatory and urgent hospitalization of the patient. This is explained by the fact that the disease is dangerous due to such severe complications:

Asthenic syndrome.
Sepsis.
Hydrocephalus.
Increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the brain area.
Epilepsy.
Impaired mental development in sick children.
Purulent arthritis.
Endocarditis.
Diseases associated with blood clotting.

Often, the disease develops infectious-toxic shock, which is characterized by a sharp decrease in pressure, tachycardia, and impaired functioning of organs and their systems. This condition occurs due to the fact that pathogens produce toxins that have a negative effect on the human body.

In this situation, resuscitation care is necessary, since infectious-toxic shock can cause coma or death.The disease is also considered dangerous due to the decrease or loss of vision and hearing, which leads to disability.

Treatment method

The disease must be treated only in a hospital setting. It is important that the patient maintains bed rest.

Treatment is carried out with an integrated approach and includes the use of the following groups of medications:

Antiviral agents or antibiotics (depending on the causative agent of meningitis).
Hormonal drugs.
Diuretic medications (to reduce brain swelling) - Diacarb, Lasix.
Means to reduce the intoxication process (they are administered intravenously), for example, glucose solution or saline solution.
Antipyretics: Nurofen, Diclofenac, Paracetamol.
Vitamin complexes, including vitamins B and C.

Antibacterial drugs can be used from the penicillin, macrolide and cephalosporin groups. They are administered intravenously or endolumbarally (introduced into the spinal cord canal).

If the causative agent is a virus, Interferon is most often prescribed. For fungal infections, use Flucytosine or Amphotericin B.

In severe cases of the disease, resuscitation procedures are necessary.

In addition, a spinal tap is also prescribed. This procedure involves collecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). With this method, the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid is noticeably reduced, resulting in an improvement in the patient's condition.Symptomatic treatment is used to eliminate allergic reactions, vomiting, and irritability.

Prognosis and prevention

With timely treatment to the hospital and timely treatment, the disease can be cured, but this process is lengthy.

If measures are taken late, the possible prognosis may be disability or death.

Disease prevention measures are as follows:

Avoiding places with large crowds of people during an increased epidemiological situation.
Taking multivitamins in autumn and winter.
Use of meningococcal vaccine.
Use of other vaccinations against various infections.
Hardening.
Rational and balanced nutrition.
Compliance with hygiene rules.
Wearing preventive masks during epidemics.
Healthy lifestyle.

If a person has had contact with infected meningitis, then it is necessary to use antimeningococcal immunoglobulins and antibacterial drugs for the purpose of prevention.