How to recognize it
The first symptoms that you may suffer from meningitis are fever (above 38 C) or higher, very severe headache, malaise, and visual discomfort in bright light. Other symptoms may include a sore throat, a rash, seizures, drowsiness, and a lack of reaction. It is not necessary for all symptoms to occur, but differs from case to case. If you suspect that your little one or someone close to you is suffering from meningitis, call 112.
Info
You should know about meninges that they represent 3 layers of connective tissue (pia mater, arachnoid, and dura mater).
Why it appears
Being an infectious disease, it occurs due to viral or bacterial, or fungal infections. Experts explain that those caused by bacteria are not very common but can be much more serious than those caused by viruses.
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Did you know that …
… with the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine, have the rates of meningitis of this type in children and adults decreased?
How it is transmitted
Meningitis can be caused by coughing, sneezing, or kissing if you use cutlery or a toothbrush from an infected person. It can often happen that some people are just carriers of bacteria or viruses, not being infected and showing no symptoms. They have these bacteria in their throats or noses and can contaminate others with the above means of transmission.
Bacterial meningitis
Babies up to 3 months old can usually get meningitis due to streptococci and bacteria, for example, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. Children and adults can get Neisseria meningitides and Streptococcus pneumonia, thus getting meningitis. For adults, both are the leading cause of meningitis. Listeria monocytogenes is a leading cause of illness for people over 50 years of age.
Complications
Those who are treated quickly from the first signs of the disease recover completely, but there are also some situations when some patients are left with long-term sequelae, reports nhs.uk. Among the serious problems that can occur are partial or total loss of sight or hearing, severe memory difficulties and attention deficit, and epilepsy. These may also be present: coordination or movement disorders and even more serious, loss of limbs, requiring amputation.
Viral meningitis
Among the viruses that lead to meningitis are Herpes simplex virus type 2, Varicella zoster virus, Uralian virus, HIV, and VCML.
Meningitis caused by fungi
HIV / AIDS, certain medications (for example, those given after organ transplants) or loss of the body’s ability to defend itself (due to aging) are the triggers for fungal meningitis. It starts with symptoms such as migraines and fever.
This is how you prevent the disease!
There are several vaccines available today that protect children from certain causes of meningitis. For type B meningitis, 1 vaccine is given to 8-week-old children, who will be given 1 dose every 16 weeks and then every 1 year. There is also the vaccine that is given to babies at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Pneumococcal vaccine for 8, 12, and 16-week-olds; The type C meningitis vaccine is for babies 12 weeks and 1 year of age. It is also given to adolescents.
How to diagnose
In order to make a correct diagnosis, the doctor performs a lumbar puncture. Insert 1 needle into the spine to take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid.
