Meningitis What is Meningitis? • Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissue (meninges) that lines the brain and spinal cord • This is a serious infection requiring immediate medical attention • It can affect children of all ages Cause for Meningitis • Meningitis can be caused primarily by a bacteria or a virus but can also be caused by fungi, parasites or a head injury Where do they come from? • Bacterial meningitis can have its source of infection in another part of the body such as the ear, throat, skin, intestine, urine or lungs • Then the organism can spill into the bloodstream (when it is called as septicemia) • Then be carried to the meninges and spinal fluid Symptoms Infants and young children less than 2 years old • Fever or hypothermia (body temperature below normal) • Poor feeding or refusal to feed • Vomiting • Decreased frequency of urine • Extreme irritability with inconsolable crying • Excessive sleepiness or lethargy • Rashes – can range from non-blanching pinpoint rashes to purplish bruise like rashes Symptoms Children older than 2 years • Fever • Severe headaches • Nausea and vomiting • Stiff neck • Irritable with shrill cry • Intolerable to light in the eyes (photophobia) • Drowsy and confused • Fits Diagnosis Your doctor will diagnose meningitis by thorough clinical exam and history Further workup is warranted at a hospital including • Blood tests – to check cell counts and send for cultures • Urine tests – analysis and culture (to see if it is the source of infection) • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) – check spinal fluid counts and culture • Imaging studies – include chest x-ray (to look for pneumonia as a source) and a CT scan of the head is not always necessary but sometimes needed (to rule out any bleeding or mass in the brain causing increased pressure inside the head) Treatment • Meningitis is a potentially life threatening illness if not treated immediately and adequately • Hence any child with even a suspicion of meningitis requires hospitalization for investigation and management with intravenous antibiotics, sometimes intravenous steroids, calculated hydration and close medical monitoring of vitals and clinical status • Viral meningitis usually resolve on its own without causing much damage to the patient • Bacterial meningitis on the other hand if not treated on time or if only partially treated can cause some permanent damage like hearing loss, developmental delay, epilepsy, paralysis and in severe cases coma or death • Timely with patient showing improvement in 48-72 hours of treatment Prevention Some forms of meningitis can be prevented by ensuring your child has or is receiving the following vaccines as per schedule • Haemophilus influenza B vaccine (Hib) • Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV 13) • Meningococcal vaccine Practicing general healthy habits can keep infections at bay such as • Thorough hand washing • Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing • Eating a healthy diet • Drinking adequate fluids • Staying away from people who are sick Team Ovum Hospitals