Causes of meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is known as ischemic membrane inflammation that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, with most cases of cerebral membrane inflammation occurring in the United States due to a viral infection, but the injury may be caused by a bacterial infection. More commonly – parasitic or fungal, in some cases the inflammation of brain membranes may improve untreated within a few weeks, But others of meninges can be life-threatening, and he also needs to stay in the hospital and undergo emergency antibiotic treatment, Early treatment of bacterial meningitis can prevent serious complications which usually leads to swelling of meninges and symptoms such as Headaches, fever, lethargy and neck stiffness, in this article will be talked about symptoms, causes, and diagnosis as well as treatment and prevention of meningitis.
Symptoms of meningitis
Symptoms of viral and bacterial meningitis can be similar at the onset of the disease. However, symptoms of bacterial inflammation are usually more severe, and symptoms may vary depending on the patient’s age. Symptoms will be talked about based on the factor causing the disease and the age of the infected person as follows:
Viral meningitis symptoms: Viral meningitis in infants may cause:
- anorexia.
- irritation.
- Drowsiness.
- hibernation.
- Fever.
In adults, viral meningitis may cause:
- headache.
- Fever.
- Neck stiffness.
- Seizures.
- Sensitivity to bright light.
- Drowsiness.
- hibernation.
- Excuse me and the nausea.
- Lack of appetite.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis may develop rapidly to include:
- Change mental state.
- nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Light sensitivity.
- irritation.
- Headache.
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Neck stiffness.
- Having purple areas on the skin resembles bruises.
- Drowsiness.
- hibernation.
In case of these symptoms, getting a medical consultation may be significantly important, as bacterial and viral inflammation of the brain membranes can be deadly.
Symptoms of innate meningitis, symptoms may resemble other types of such infections, these may include:
- nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Light sensitivity.
- Fever.
- Headache.
- confusion.
Causes of meningitis
Meningitis can be caused by a person-to-person infection or maybe a non-infection that has led to inflammation, as many different viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can cause meningitis, diseases that can cause inflammation of the body’s tissue without infection. -like systemic erythematosus systemic lupus erythematosus and HJBEHÇET’s disease- may cause meningitis, and add that some drugs that may cause meningitis such as the most common anti-inflammatory drugs -Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory – analgesics – for example: proven – or certain antibiotics.
Diagnosis of meningitis
Meningitis can be diagnosed on several grounds: medical history, physical examination, and some diagnostic tests. The doctor may examine signs of infection around the head, ears, throat, and skin along the spine. The person may undergo the following diagnostic tests:
Blood plantations: Blood samples are placed in a special dish to see if microorganisms are growing, especially bacteria, and a sample can also be placed on a chip, then dyed -gram dye – and then studied under a microscope.
Imaging: Via CT or MRI scanning the head, X-rays, chest coaxial stratification, or sinuses may also show infections in other areas that may be associated with meningitis.
Spinal fluid – take a sample of the spinal cord -: To make the final diagnosis of meningitis, it is important to take a sample of the CSF spinal cord fluid, as it often shows a decrease in sugar-glucose level along with an increase in the number of white blood cells and an increase in protein.
Analysis of the CSF spinal cord fluid may also help identify the bacteria that cause meningitis, and if there is doubt that the cause of viral inflammation, the doctor may request a DNA-based test known as amplification of the PCR polymeric chain reaction or a test to verify the presence of antibodies against certain viruses; This is to determine the cause and determine the appropriate treatment.
Treatment of meningitis
Inflammation of brain membranes is a life-threatening disease requiring immediate treatment. Treatment of inflammation is determined based on the cause. The cause is either bacterial – the most common – or fungal or viral as follows:
Meningitis bacterial cause may require treatment in the hospital immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent brain damage and death. Treatment is with intravenous antibiotics. It is worth noting that there is no specific antibiotic for bacterial meningitis, as it depends on the bacteria involved that cause inflammation.
Fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal drugs, parasitic inflammation may involve either treating only symptoms or trying to treat the infection directly, depending on the cause this type of inflammation may improve without the need for antibiotic treatment.
Viral meningitis may be cured on its own, but some causes of viral inflammation may be treated by intravenous injection with some antivirals.
Preventing meningitis
Based on the seriousness and prevalence of the disease, preventing it has become a priority for infection control. The first step to preventing meninges is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially if a person is in an environment of increased risk. This health pattern includes the following:
- Get sufficient amounts of rest.
- Refrain from smoking.
- Avoid contact very soon with patients.
In case of close contact between a healthy person with one or more patients with a meningococcal bacterial infection, it is important to use preventive antibiotics; This reduces the chance of infection.
On the other hand, vaccinations can also protect against certain types of meningitis. Vaccines that can prevent meningitis include the following:
- Haemophilus influenza type B.
- Vaccine against pneumococcal bacteria.
- Vaccine against meningococcal bacteria meningococcal.