meningitis

Release time : 01/18/2025 18:13:27

The development of technology has led to the widespread use of antibiotics, significantly reducing the incidence of encephalitis once considered a cause for concern. Additionally, with the advancement of medical conditions such as drugs and equipment, the successful treatment of encephalitis has also achieved significant progress.

However, meningitis can occur in children as well. If not detected in time or the treatment is improper, it may lead to serious sequelae.

Therefore, everyone should have a good understanding of the causes of meningitis and the symptoms of meningitis. This is very helpful for prevention and treatment of meningitis.

What is meningitis? Meningitis refers to a condition where the meninges or the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord (the dura mater) are infected. It typically occurs as a complication of an infection affecting any part of the body, such as an ear or upper respiratory tract infection.

In layman's terms, meningitis is a disease caused by pathogens.

According to different pathogens, meningitis can be divided into bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis, viral meningitis, and cryptococcal meningitis.

Of course, besides bacterial meningitis, some drugs can also cause meningitis symptoms in a few cases.

Children, not just adults, can also suffer from meningitis.

The most common symptoms of meningitis are headaches and neck stiffness, along with fever, mental confusion or delirium, vomiting, inability to tolerate bright light (photic dysesthesia) or loud sounds (auditory dysesthesia).

Children with meningitis usually present only non-specific symptoms such as irritability and lethargy.

Because the meningitis is located near the brain and spinal cord, if it is severe, the patient may die.

However, since the widespread use of antibiotics, the incidence of meningitis has been significantly reduced globally. Coupled with the continuous advancement of medical conditions, the treatment of meningitis has also achieved great success.

What causes meningitis? This is a question that many people are curious about, after all, this disease is close to the brain and spinal cord, which sounds incredible.

There are four common types of encephalitis: bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis, viral meningitis, and cryptococcal meningitis. Today we will briefly introduce the various causes of encephalitis.

1. Bacterial meningitis is caused by the spread of bacteria.

This bacteria is present in both the nose and body of a healthy person, and generally does not pose any harm to the human body. However, people are more susceptible to this pathogen when they have a cold because inflammation in the nose may allow it to enter the cranium, and if it is not detected and treated promptly, it can easily lead to bacterial meningitis.

Additionally, bacterial meningitis can be transmitted via coughing or sneezing.

2. Etiology of Tuberculous Meningitis: Tuberculous meningitis is a nonsuppurative inflammation of the meninges caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, accounting for approximately 6% of all systemic tuberculosis cases.

Following dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the bacteria are embedded in the subarachnoid space beneath the dura mater and form nodules. When these nodules rupture, a large number of mycobacteria enter the subarachnoid space.

In recent years, the incidence and mortality rates of tuberculous meningitis have been increasing.

3. Viral meningitis may be caused by several types of viruses, including those that are associated with diarrhea. Among them, it is possible to be infected after being bitten by voles such as meadow mice.

4. Encephalitis caused by fungi: Encephalitis can be caused by fungi, the most common of which is Cryptococcus. This fungus can be found in pigeons.

Healthy people are not likely to develop meningitis caused by fungi, but HIV-infected individuals are different; it is a virus that can cause AIDS.

Therefore, individuals with HIV are more susceptible to cryptococcal meningitis.

What are the symptoms of meningitis? The symptoms of meningitis are usually quite obvious, and here we can divide into two groups: adults and children.

Symptoms of adult meningitis: 1. Early symptoms of meningitis, or may present with extremely low blood pressure, especially in epidemic meningitis, but the phenomenon of hypotension is not limited to epidemic meningitis.

Low blood pressure can lead to insufficient blood supply to other organs.

2. The brain tissue or may swell, and the pressure within the skull may increase, manifesting symptoms such as a decrease in consciousness level, disappearance of pupil sensory reflexes, and abnormal posture.

3. Meningitis can lead to abnormalities in the brain nerves, such as visual impairment, loss of hearing, and abnormal movements in body parts (e.g., uncontrollable facial expressions).

It is important to note that meningitis commonly presents with symptoms such as high fever (40°C), neck stiffness, severe headache, loss of appetite, confusion, vomiting, convulsions, lethargy, drowsiness, photophobia, and small petechiae on the skin (particularly around the armpits, hands, and feet), which resemble those of the common cold. This similarity between the symptoms of meningitis and those of the common cold is one of the reasons why patients with early symptoms of meningitis may be misdiagnosed.

Symptoms of pediatric meningitis: 1. Among the common types of meningitis in children, tuberculous meningitis is a notable early symptom. This condition presents with restlessness and crying, mental dullness, dislike for play, low fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, restless sleep, and weight loss.

Adult children may also experience headaches, increased vomiting, progressively worsening dizziness, and eventually coma with frequent seizures, flaccid paralysis of limbs, etc. This condition can potentially lead to death.

2. Another common type of meningitis in children is purulent meningitis, characterized by fever, headache, vomiting, and irritability as the primary symptoms.

Patients with an acute onset present with a high fever exceeding 39°C, accompanied by severe headache, lethargy, fatigue, loss of appetite, and frequent vomiting.

In the onset, children are usually conscious. However, with progression of the condition, they may exhibit symptoms such as somnolence, confusion, disoriented speech, and difficulty in correctly orienting themselves.

Patients with severe conditions may exhibit seizures and coma within 24 hours of onset.

If not treated in time, children may also experience symptoms such as neck stiffness, head back tilt, back stiffness, and a general body posture resembling an "arch".

If not treated in time, symptoms of meningitis can lead to sequelae such as cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, paralysis, epilepsy, and intellectual deterioration.

Meningitis can have sequelae. Meningitis is a life-threatening disease, and if not treated in time or improperly treated, there may be sequelae.

Meningitis sequelae not only severely affect the patient's quality of life but also impose various burdens on the family.

What are the sequelae of meningitis? Let's take a look at them together, shall we?

1. Hydrocephalus.

When meningitis occurs, exudate may obstruct small ducts or form adhesions, leading to disturbances of the cerebrospinal fluid circulation and resulting in hydrocephalus.

Commonly seen in patients who have not been treated properly or too late, especially in neonates and infants.

Due to meningeal adhesions and cerebral spinal fluid circulation disorders.

2. Loss of language comprehension and expressive ability, as well as damage to cranial nerves leading to paralysis such as deafness, visual impairment, strabismus, facial nerve paralysis, etc.

3. Due to damage and adhesion to the brain parenchyma, cranial nerves can be affected, leading to epilepsy (convulsions) in patients with meningitis following injury.

Meningitis sequelae can also lead to the occurrence of epilepsy, some patients do not occur in short term, but will appear years later.

Presenting with various disturbances such as movement, sensation, consciousness, autonomic nervous system, and mental functions, clinically characterized by sudden loss of consciousness, sudden falls, convulsions, frothing at the mouth, or croaking, with recovery to normalcy upon awakening.

4. Apart from conditions such as vomiting and irregular intake, water and electrolyte imbalances can also occur due to cerebral hyponatremia.

Symptoms include insomnia, seizures, coma, edema, general weakness, decreased muscle tone in the limbs, and reduced urine output.

Brain inflammation can be cured if diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Although it is a potentially fatal disease, there is a significant chance of recovery with appropriate treatment.

Therefore, patients with meningitis must maintain an optimistic and active attitude towards treatment.

Early patients with meningitis can be cured by regular treatment if timely hospitalized.

If the bacteria encephalitis has been infected, large doses of antibacterial drugs will be used, and it may be administered by intravenous injection.

Antibiotics are widely used for the treatment of bacterial meningitis.

Because meningitis is infectious, it will be placed in isolation for at least 48 hours.

Many patients with viral encephalomyelitis recover completely.

The chance of survival and recovery largely depends on the type of virus.

If bacterial meningitis is treated in time, the mortality rate is less than 10%.

However, if diagnosis and treatment are delayed, it can lead to irreversible brain damage or even death, especially in infants and the elderly.

Brain inflammation treatment: 1. Neuron regeneration drug: Brain activating fluid (10-30ml in 250ml saline) slowly dripped into the patient's body once a day for 10-20 days, one course of treatment per day.

2. Drugs to restore normal cellular function: For example, 0.75g of cephalin is dissolved in 5% glucose solution or 250-500ml of saline and administered intravenously once daily; it can also be injected into the spinal column with a dose of 0.25g.

3. Improvement of Cerebral Cell Environment Drugs: Nimodipine, for example, can dilate cerebral blood vessels, facilitating the delivery of various nutrients to cerebral cells.

Generally, treatment begins within one hour of initiation with a continuous infusion of 1 mg per hour. If the patient tolerates this, the dosage is increased to 2 mg per hour and continues for 7-14 days at a daily total of 24-48 mg.

Additionally, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve cerebral cell oxygen supply.

*The medical information mentioned in this text is for reference only.

In case of discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately for a precise diagnosis and treatment.