What kind of disease are meningitis symptoms. Meningitis: prevention is better than cure. Meningitis: treatment of the disease. Medicines and complementary methods

Meningitis is a group of acute neuroinfections that affect the pia mater and are manifested by symptoms of increased ICP (intracranial pressure) and MO irritation (meninges), as well as general intoxication. The inflammatory process in meningitis can affect both the membranes of the brain and the spinal cord.

In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), meningitis is under various headings.

Meningitis - ICD 10 code:

1. A39.0 - for meningococcal meningitis;
2. G00 - for bacterial meningitis, and, depending on the pathogen, the code is supplemented with a digit:

• 1- for pneumococcal meningitis (G00.1);
• 2 - streptococcal;
• 3 - staphylococcal;
• 8 - for meningitis caused by other bacterial pathogens;
• 9 - for unspecified meningitis.

The G01 code is used for meningitis developed against the background of various bacterial infections classified in another heading;

Viral meningitis is classified under A87

• 2- for lymphocytic choriomeningitis;
• 9 - unspecified viral meningitis.

Is meningitis contagious?

Meningitis is a contagious disease. Most highly contagious
contagious meningococcal meningitis. Serious patients pose the greatest danger to others in the first days of illness. Patients with nasopharyngitis with meningococcal infection can pose a serious risk to others for several weeks.

Healthy carriers can release meningococci into the environment by coughing and sneezing for 2–3 weeks. In some cases, healthy carriage can last for more than six weeks.

Children and immunocompromised patients are most susceptible to infection.

Is meningitis transmitted by airborne droplets?

The most common routes of transmission of meningitis are drip. However, in rare cases, infection with meningitis pathogens can occur by blood contact and vertical pathways.

The pathogens of meningitis are transmitted from person to person. The source of infection in meningococcal meningitis are critically ill patients, persons with meningococcal nasopharyngitis and healthy carriers of meningococcal infection.

Types of meningitis

Depending on the etiology of the pathogen, meningitis can be bacterial (this includes classic meningococcal meningitis), viral, fungal, protozoal, etc.

The most common are meningitis of a bacterial nature caused by staphylo-, streptomeningococci, Proteus, Escherichia, Haemophilus influenzae, etc.

Depending on the nature of the inflammatory processes, meningitis can be purulent or serous in nature.

Also, it is necessary to divide the inflammation of the meninges into:

• primary, which arose as an independent disease;
• secondary, which is a complication of another infection (meningitis can be a complication of purulent otitis media, sinusitis, mastoiditis, etc.).

In terms of duration, the inflammatory process can be lightning fast, acute, sluggish or chronic.

The severity is divided into mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe.

Pathogenesis of the development of inflammation of the meninges

The incubation period for meningitis in adults is 1 to 5 days. In some cases, up to 10 days.

Entrance gates for pathogens of meningitis, in most cases, are mucous membranes lining the nasopharynx and bronchi. After pathogenic microorganisms hit the mucous membrane, their active reproduction begins. This process can be manifested by a local inflammatory reaction.

For meningitis of meningococcal etiology, the development of meningococcal nasopharyngitis is characteristic, proceeding as acute respiratory infections (catarrhal phenomena, fever, chills, sore throat, hoarseness, etc.). It should be noted that in patients with good immunity, as a rule, meningococcal infection can occur only in the form of nasopharyngitis, without leading to the development of meningitis or meningococcemia.

The generalization of the infection will be hampered by the patient's local humoral immunity. In some cases, there may be a rapid and complete destruction of meningococcus, without pronounced clinical manifestations. Also, the transition of the disease to a healthy (asymptomatic) carriage of meningococcal infection is possible.

In the presence of favorable factors (decreased immunity, depletion of the body with prolonged illness, etc.), meningococci can enter the subarachnoid space, causing inflammation of the meninges of the brain. It is also possible that bacteria enter the membranes of the brain by the lymphogenous or hematogenous route (most often in severe complicated otitis media, sinusitis, etc.).

After the pathogen enters the cerebrospinal fluid, inflammation develops instantly. This is due to the fact that there are no anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms in the cerebrospinal fluid - immunoglobulins, complement, antibodies.

Bacteria trapped in the cerebrospinal fluid and the toxins produced by them affect the epithelial cells of the microvasculature of the brain, stimulating the production of PVC (anti-inflammatory cytokines) and chemokines. The development of intracranial hypertensive syndrome occurs in response to inflammatory reactions in the meninges. Further, the hypertensive syndrome aggravates the severity of impaired blood flow and metabolic processes in the brain, as well as the severity of neurological disorders.

Continued response hyperproduction of cerebrospinal fluid causes cerebral edema and ischemic-hypoxic damage to the nervous system. This leads to parenchymal damage to the brain, accompanied by the death of neurons and the appearance of severe motor, sensory, mental and intellectual disorders.

Can you die from meningitis?

With the spread of infection (generalization of meningococcal infection) with the development of meningococcemia, in addition to severe bacteremia itself, significant endotoxinemia occurs. The consequences of these processes are severe hemodynamic disturbances, septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, metabolic disorders, accompanied by irreversible damage to internal organs.

The severe course of meningitis, especially the form with fulminant development, is often fatal.

The first signs of meningitis in adults

The first manifestations of meningococcal infection are usually nonspecific and are in the nature of a common ARVI. Catarrhal phenomena in the nasopharynx, fever, sore throat, slight nasal congestion, general intoxication symptoms are noted.

Later, with the development of inflammation of the meninges, meningeal symptoms join.

Meningitis does not occur without temperature. The disease is always accompanied by high fever and severe intoxication. The temperature with meningitis, as a rule, rises to 40 degrees.

The first symptoms that allow one to suspect that the meninges are involved in the inflammatory process will be:

• violent, intense headaches;
• severe photophobia and intolerance to loud sounds;
• repeated vomiting. At the same time, the vomiting itself is not accompanied by nausea and does not bring relief;
• decreased muscle tone and tendon reflexes, severe weakness;
• disturbances of consciousness, the appearance of lethargy, stupor, or vice versa, pronounced excitement, delirium, anxiety;
• increased skin sensitivity.

Symptoms of meningitis in adults

In addition to the obligatory triad of symptoms: vomiting, fever and intense headache, the most specific and indicative of meningitis will be the appearance of the so-called meningeal signs:

• stiff neck muscles;

• symptoms of Kerning and Brudzinsky.

Rashes with meningitis appear with the development of meningococcemia. The first elements of the rash, most often, appear on the buttocks, then they spread to the legs, trunk, arms, face (rarely). The elements of the rash are star-shaped with necrotic foci in the center.

As with children, adults have severe headaches, the intensity of which is significantly increased in bright light or loud sounds.

The specific meningeal posture of a pointing dog is also characteristic.

Pointing Dog Pose

Meningeal symptoms usually develop within 12-15 hours from the onset of the disease.

With the defeat of the cranial nerves, the appearance of disorders on the part of the psyche is characteristic, the occurrence of hallucinatory-delusional syndrome, a feeling of euphoria. Convulsions, paresis, paralysis, and significant coordination disorders also develop.

In some cases, after the appearance of a rash, a clinic of an acute abdomen (severe abdominal pain) and diarrhea may develop.

In severe meningococcemia, a significant increase in heart rate, shortness of breath, symptoms of renal failure (anuria), and increased bleeding are also characteristic.

Diagnosis of meningitis

It is possible to suspect meningococcal meningitis when a patient develops fever, vomiting, headache, meningeal signs, hemorrhagic rash.

To clarify the diagnosis, perform:

• KLA (general blood test), OAM (general urine test);
• biochemical blood test;
• blood clotting tests (coagulogram);
• research and culture of cerebrospinal fluid (with meningitis, this study is one of the most important) with further determination of the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibacterial agents;
• tank. sowing nasopharyngeal mucus for meningococcal flora;
• bacteriological diagnostics of blood culture.

They also carry out electrocardiography, radiography of the chest (chest organs) and accessory nasal sinuses, MRI and CT of the brain.

Treatment of meningitis in adults

Treatment of meningitis with antibiotics in adults and children is mandatory.

All antimicrobial therapy is selected empirically at the beginning (initial therapy based on the clinical picture, medical history and epidemiological history of the patient). Further, after receiving crops for the pathogen and its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs, the prescribed antimicrobial therapy can be adjusted (if necessary).

For pneumococcal meningitis, the first-line antibiotics are vancomycin® with cefotaxime® or ceftriaxone®.

Ceftriaxone ® is a "first line" drug for meningitis

If meningitis is confirmed to be caused by penicillin-susceptible strains of pneumococcus, ampicillin or benzylpenicillin may be prescribed. Reserve antibiotics in the treatment of pneumococcal meningitis will be drugs:

• cefotaxime®;
• ceftriaxone®;
• cefepime®;
• meropenem ®;
• linezolid®.

1. For meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae, it is recommended to prescribe ceftriaxone ® or cefotaxime ®. From the reserve drugs, drugs such as cefepime®, meropenem®, ampicillin are prescribed.
2. Benzylpenicillin, cefotaxime® or ceftriaxone® are used to treat meningococcal meningitis. From reserve drugs, ampicillin or chloramphenicol® can be used.
3. With enterococcal meningitis, the appointment of ampicillin with gentamicin ® or amikacin is indicated. A combination of vancomycin® with gentamicin® can also be used.
4. For the treatment of staphylococcal meningitis, oxacillin ®, vancomycin ®, rifampicin ®, linezolid ® can be prescribed.

The rest of the therapy is symptomatic and is aimed at stabilizing the patient's condition:

• maintaining pressure and bcc;
• elimination of hemodynamic disturbances and electrolyte imbalance;
• infusion and detoxification therapy;
• relief of seizures;
• first aid for the development of symptoms of cerebral edema, etc.

The consequences of meningitis in adults

With a moderate course of the disease and the timely provision of specialized honey. help - the prognosis is favorable. However, it should be understood that meningococcal meningitis is one of the most unpredictable diseases in its course.

In some cases, fulminant development of meningococcal meningitis with severe meningococcemia, multiple organ failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, septic shock and death is possible.

The consequences of the transferred inflammation of the meninges can be mental and intellectual abnormalities, the development of paresis and paralysis, convulsive seizures, etc.

But also, the disease can proceed without further consequences.

Meningitis - symptoms and treatment

What is meningitis? We will analyze the causes of occurrence, diagnosis and treatment methods in the article by Dr.P.Aleksandrov, an infectious disease specialist with 12 years of experience.

Definition of disease. Causes of the disease

Infectious meningitis- a combined group of acute, subacute and chronic infectious diseases caused by various types of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa), which, under conditions of specific resistance of the organism, cause damage to the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, manifested in a pronounced irritation syndrome of the meninges, severe intoxication syndrome and always proceeding with a potential threat to the patient's life.

Infectious meningitis can be both a primary pathology (developing as an independent nosological form) and secondary (developing as a complication of another disease).

Looking ahead, I would like to answer a popular question from readers and netizens: what is the risk of infection from a patient, and is it possible to be near a patient without a particular risk of developing meningitis? The answer is quite simple: since meningitis is a composite group of diseases caused by various infectious agents, the risk of infection will depend on the etiological cause of meningitis, but the likelihood of developing meningitis will depend on the capabilities of the human immune system. In other words, in order to know if there is a risk, you need to know which microorganism caused meningitis in the patient and what are the protective immune abilities of others.

Depending on the type of meningitis, the routes of infection and the mechanisms of occurrence of the disease differ. With regard to infectious meningitis, one can point to an extremely wide geographical distribution, with a tendency to increase the foci of the disease on the African continent (meningococcal meningitis), more frequent development of the disease in children and an increase in morbidity in the cold season (viral meningitis as a complication of ARVI). The transmission of infection often occurs by airborne droplets.

If you find similar symptoms, consult your doctor. Do not self-medicate - it is dangerous to your health!

Meningitis symptoms

Signs of involvement of the meninges in the pathological process (meningeal syndromes), which are divided into groups:

Separately, mention should be made of a specific manifestation that is similar to the symptoms of meningitis (meningeal syndrome), but is not such and has nothing to do with the pathogenesis of true meningitis - meningism... Most often, it develops as a result of mechanical or intoxication effects on the meninges in the absence of an inflammatory process. It is stopped when the provoking effect is removed, in some cases differential diagnosis is possible only when conducting special studies.

Pathogenesis of meningitis

The variety of pathogens and individual characteristics of individuals in the human population also determine the rather pronounced variability of the forms and manifestations of meningitis, the risk of infection for other people, therefore, in this article we will focus on the most significant forms of diseases and their pathogens in social terms.

Meningococcal meningitis- always acute (acute) disease. It is caused by Vekselbaum's meningococcus (a gram-negative bacterium, unstable in the environment, at a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius dies after 5 minutes, UFO and 70% alcohol kill almost instantly). The source of the spread of infection is a sick person (including meningococcal nasopharyngitis) and a carrier of bacteria, transmission occurs by airborne droplets.

The place of introduction (gate) is the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the infectious process does not develop or local forms of the disease develop. When meningococcus overcomes local anti-infectious barriers, hematogenous spread of infection occurs and generalized meningococcal infection occurs, including the development of meningococcal meningitis, in the absence of adequate treatment, which ends in more than 50% of cases with death. In the pathogenesis of the disease, toxins that are released after the death of bacteria in the bloodstream, damage to the walls of blood vessels play a role, which leads to impaired hemodynamics, hemorrhages in organs and deep metabolic disorders. Hyper irritation of the meninges occurs, the development of purulent inflammation of the tissue and a rapid increase in intracranial pressure. Often, due to edema and swelling of the brain tissue, the brain is wedged into the foramen magnum and the patient dies from respiratory paralysis.

The latent period of the disease is from 2 to 10 days. The beginning is acute (even more correct - the most acute). In the first hours of the disease, there is a sharp increase in body temperature up to 38.5 degrees and higher, severe lethargy, weakness, pain in the periorbital region, decreased appetite, and a sharp headache. A characteristic sign of headache is a constant increase in its intensity, diffuse pain without clear localization, bursting or pressing character, causing true torment for the patient. At the height of the headache, vomiting gushes without preceding nausea, which does not bring any relief. Sometimes in patients with severe uncontrolled course, mainly in unconscious children, an uncontrolled cry is observed, accompanied by clasping the head with hands - the so-called. "Hydrocephalic cry" caused by a sharp increase in intracranial pressure. The appearance of patients is etched into the memory - sharpening of facial features (Laforte's symptom), meningeal posture for 2-3 days of the disease (while "a cop dog"). Some patients develop hemorrhagic rashes on the body, resembling a stellate rash (which is an unfavorable sign). In the course of 2-3 days, the severity of symptoms increases, hallucinations, delirium may appear. The degree of impairment of consciousness can vary from doubtfulness to coma; if untreated, death can occur at any time.

Slowly developing pathology. It is mainly secondary, developing with an already existing tuberculous process of other organs. It has several periods of development, consistently developing over a long time:

1.prodromal (up to 10 days, characterized by mild symptoms of general malaise)

2.sensimotor irritation (from 8 to 15 days, the appearance of initial cerebral and weak meningeal manifestations)

3. paresis and paralysis (attracts attention from 3 weeks after the debut of the infectious process in the form of changes and loss of consciousness, disorders of swallowing, speech).

Initially, there is a moderate rise in body temperature without pronounced jumps and rises, quite tolerable headaches of low intensity, well-controlled by taking analgesics. In the future, the headaches intensify, nausea and vomiting are connected. An invariable sign of tuberculous meningitis is a rise in temperature, fever, and the numbers and duration can vary from subfebrile to hectic values. Gradually, from the end of the second week, symptoms of disorientation, stunnedness appear and slowly increase, ending in a deep "workload" of the patient, stupor and coma. Dysfunction of the pelvic organs, abdominal pain develop. Meningeal symptoms also gradually develop, and the truly classic symptoms (the "pointing dog" pose) develop only in advanced cases.

Herpetic meningitis most often caused by herpes simplex viruses of types 1 and 2, chickenpox virus and develops against the background of a weakening of the body with ARVI or serious immunosuppression, incl. AIDS. It is divided into primary (when the process develops during primary infection with a virus) and secondary (reactivation of the infection against the background of a decrease in immunity). Always an acute disease, the primary manifestations depend on the previous premorbid background. More often, against the existing background of ARVI phenomena, herpetic eruptions of the perioral region and genitals, severe headache of a diffuse nature occurs, which intensifies over time, vomiting, which does not bring relief. All this can occur against the background of a moderate or high increase in body temperature, mild meningeal symptoms. Often, brain damage is added, in such cases, mental disorders (often aggression), hallucinations, disorientation, generalized convulsions occur on 3-4 days. With proper treatment, the prognosis is usually quite favorable; in the absence of adequate treatment in conditions of impaired immunological resistance, death or persistent residual phenomena are possible.

Classification and stages of development of meningitis

The following types of infectious meningitis are distinguished:

2. According to the predominant course of the inflammatory process:

• purulent (meningococcal, pneumococcal, caused by Haemophilus influenzae)
• serous (viral)

3. Downstream:

• sharp (as an option - lightning fast)
• subacute
• chronic

4) By localization, severity, clinical forms, etc.

Complications of meningitis

Complications observed in meningococcal meningitis (less often in other forms of meningitis) are early and late, associated with both a catastrophe of the nervous system and other parts of the body. The main ones are:

Diagnosis of meningitis

The primary diagnostic search includes an examination by an infectious disease doctor and a neurologist and, if a possible meningitis is suspected, a leading diagnostic study, a lumbar puncture, is carried out.

It involves the introduction of a hollow needle into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord at the level of the lumbar spine. The purpose of this study is to clarify the type, properties and nature of changes in cerebrospinal fluid, to identify possible pathogens and ways of treating this type of meningitis.

Depending on the etiological agent that causes meningitis, the properties of the cerebrospinal fluid differ, we will give their main types and characteristics:

1. Bacterial meningitis (including meningococcal meningitis):

• high pressure liquor (over 200 mm water column)
• the outflowing liquid is yellow-green, viscous, with significant cellular-protein dissociation, flows out slowly
• high cell count (neutrophilic pleocytosis 1000 / μl and above)
• raising the level of protein 2-6 g / l and above
• drop in chloride and sugar levels

2. Serous meningitis (including viral):

• CSF pressure is normal or slightly increased
• the cerebrospinal fluid is transparent, the expiration on puncture is 60-90 drops per minute
• the number of cellular elements in the cerebrospinal fluid (cytosis) less than 800 in μl
• protein concentration up to 1 g / l and below
• glucose within normal range

3. Tuberculous meningitis:

• moderate increase in CSF pressure
• transparent in appearance, sometimes opalescent film
• moderate number of cells (up to 200 per μl, mainly lymphocytes)
• protein increased to 8 g / l
• glucose and chlorides are reduced

In addition to determining the physicochemical properties of cerebrospinal fluid, methods are widely used today to isolate and establish the causative agent of the disease, which can play a decisive role in therapy and prognosis. The most significant are the cultivation of native cerebrospinal fluid on nutrient media (search for bacterial, fungal pathogens), PCR of the cerebrospinal fluid (polymerase chain reaction) in order to identify nucleic acids of the pathogen, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) of cerebrospinal fluid, blood, urine, etc. the purpose of determining antigens and antibodies of possible causative agents of meningitis, microscopy of cerebrospinal fluid and nasopharyngeal mucus, clinical and biochemical blood tests. Conducting an MRI of the brain is quite informative.

Etiotropic therapy (aimed at getting rid of the pathogen) depends on the specific situation (research conducted, doctor's experience, algorithms) and may include the appointment of antibacterial drugs, including anti-tuberculosis (with meningitis of a bacterial, tuberculous nature, unclear situation), antiviral funds (for herpetic meningitis, other viral pathogens), antifungal agents (for fungal infections). The advantage is given to intravenous administration of drugs under the control of the patient's condition and periodic control of cerebrospinal fluid (control lumbar puncture).

Pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy is aimed at interrupting the links of pathogenesis, improving the action of etiotropic drugs and improving the general condition of the patient. It can include the use of hormones, diuretics, antioxidants, vascular agents, glucose, etc.

Severe and life-threatening forms of meningitis should be kept in intensive care units under the constant supervision of medical personnel.

Forecast. Prevention

The prognosis for the development of meningitis depends on its causative agent. With bacterial meningitis (taking into account that in 60% of cases it is meningococcal meningitis), the prognosis is always (even in modern hospitals) very serious - mortality can reach 10-15%, and with the development of generalized forms of meningococcal infection - up to 27%. Even with a successful outcome, there is a high risk of residual (residual) phenomena, such as intellectual disruption, paresis and paralysis, ischemic stroke, etc.

It is impossible to predict the development of certain disorders; it is only possible to minimize their occurrence by a timely visit to a doctor and start treatment. With viral meningitis, the prognosis is more favorable; in general, the mortality rate is no more than 1% of all cases of the disease.

Prevention of meningitis includes specific and non-specific activities.

Non-specific- a healthy lifestyle, strengthening immunity, observing hygiene rules, using repellents, etc.

Specific prevention is aimed at developing immunity against certain pathogens of infectious meningitis, this is vaccination, for example, against meningococcal infection, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae. The most effective vaccinations in children's groups, since children are most susceptible to the development of meningitis, and vaccination significantly reduces the level of their morbidity.

There are no diseases in life that could be pleasant.

Diseases are very dangerous and slightly less dangerous.

Acute meningitis is a very dangerous and serious disease that has four types of meningococci: A, B, C and D. The first two of them need constant attention during an epidemic.

The most common reason people get meningitis is walking down the street in cold weather without a hat, and even worse with a wet head.

There is some truth in this, but only a fraction. In most cases, meningitis is caused by bacteria and viruses that negatively affect the pia mater and cerebrospinal fluid.

To catch a disease, you just need to contact a person who is sick with a viral or infectious disease.

For children, the most popular source of meningitis is the introduction of enterovirus into the body through dirty food or water. Also, the disease can be obtained during childbirth, when the virus can penetrate by airborne droplets, through dirty water or through the mucous membrane. In addition, meningitis is often a complication of various head diseases and injuries.

It is very important for people of all ages to avoid at least basic reasons due to which such a serious illness develops.

It is necessary to wash your hands before eating, maintain good hygiene and keep your head from freezing in bad weather.

Symptoms of acute meningitis

With meningitis, the symptoms are obvious and very unpleasant.

Having received the disease, a person begins to feel a headache. The temperature rises, the muscles in the neck stop moving, and the knee joint stops working.

Light and sound are perceived too harshly, which causes additional discomfort. Also, with meningitis, nausea and vomiting appear, a feeling of weakness and an irregular heart rhythm.

In the most unpleasant situations, a person can lose consciousness up to falling into a coma. A particularly acute reaction of the body to meningitis occurs if it is bacterial.

If a combination of these symptoms occurs, immediate measures should be taken to prevent the disease. Upper respiratory tract disease is often a symptom of meningitis. In this case, timely antibiotic treatment can correct the plight and normalize the situation with the disease.

Diagnostics

Nowadays, there are a number of ways to diagnose meningitis. The main ones include:

• Blood chemistry. Such an analysis makes it possible to understand the state of the patient's immunity.
• X-ray. The infection can occur in the airways and sinuses. Thanks to the X-ray, it will be possible to understand the cause of the disease.
• Analysis of urine. Allows you to identify the presence of an infectious focus in the genitourinary system and helps to assess the functioning of the kidneys.
• MRI. Allows you to examine the brain and nervous system for complications.
• Puncture. As already mentioned, with meningitis, the cerebrospinal fluid is affected. Puncture allows you to determine the degree of infection of the body and how much the inflammatory process is running. The sensitivity of the body to medicinal products is also determined.
• Biopsy. It is not necessary to diagnose with a biopsy, but it often allows you to understand the condition of the skin and what is the cause of skin inflammation.

Despite all the variety of ways to diagnose the disease, the key factor is the patient's own speed. It is he who must react to his illness in time and immediately consult a doctor.

Prognosis and treatment

Putting forward a prognosis for a cure for meningitis, doctors must correctly determine the type of disease.

The most dangerous type is meningococcal meningitis, which occurs most often.

It is unpleasant to realize, but with this form of the disease, there is a possibility of death.

Yes, today there are huge shifts in the field of medical progress, but this cannot completely exclude the possibility of patient death.

It should be noted that the overall situation is improving. In the old days, an average of 75% of patients died from meningococcal meningitis, but now this percentage has decreased by 4-5 times. In addition, the likelihood that after an illness a person will have complications such as paralysis, epilepsy and dementia decreases.

There are also types such as viral and tuberculous meningitis. They are not so dangerous, so the forecast is much better. You can recover without consequences in a few weeks. Serous meningitis usually cures within a week.

Meningitis is treated with a variety of therapies. These include antibacterial, detoxification, anti-inflammatory hormonal and symptomatic therapy. In addition, in the treatment of secondary meningitis, the elimination of the purulent focus is necessary.

Prevention

To a greater extent, three categories of people are attributed to the disease:

• children under five;
• adolescents from 16 to 25 years old;
• elderly people over 60 years old.

It is especially important for them to follow the basic rules of hygiene and a healthy lifestyle.

If it turned out that there was contact with a person suffering from meningitis, you must immediately go to the hospital.

You need to be under the supervision of a specialist for up to two weeks. In addition, if an infection is detected, it is necessary to immediately heal its focus.

Vaccination is one of the most important helpers for people in the fight against meningitis. This disease is very dangerous and it is not a fact that vaccination will save you from problems, but if you carry out a whole range of vaccinations against viruses, this will greatly increase the chances of avoiding the disease.

Meningitis is a complex disease, the symptoms of which are unpleasant and immediately visible. It is impossible to insure yourself against meningitis, but you can make every effort to reduce the likelihood of the disease. If, nevertheless, the disease has overtaken, it is necessary to see a doctor in a timely manner, diagnose the problem and start treatment.

Video on the topic

Meningitis is an acute infectious disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the spinal cord and brain. Infection can be provoked by fungi, viruses and various bacteria, for example: Haemophilus influenzae, enteroviruses, meningococcal infection, tubercle bacilli. Signs of meningitis can appear at any age, but, as a rule, people with weakened immune systems, premature babies, patients with head injuries, back injuries, and CNS lesions get sick.

With adequate and, most importantly, timely treatment of meningitis, the vital organs and systems of a person usually do not suffer. The exception is the so-called reactive meningitis, the consequences of which are extremely severe. If the treatment of meningitis is not started on the first day after the onset of severe symptoms, the patient may become deaf or blind. Often, the disease leads to coma and even death. As a rule, the transferred meningitis in children and adults forms immunity to the action of pathogens, but there are exceptions. However, cases of repeated illness are extremely rare. According to experts, the infection occurs a second time only in 0.1% of people who have recovered.

What can be meningitis?

The disease is primary and secondary. The first type of infection is diagnosed if the meninges are immediately affected during infection. Secondary meningitis in adults and children manifests itself against the background of the underlying disease (leptospirosis, otitis media, mumps, etc.), develops slowly, but ultimately also leads to damage to the meninges.

The hallmark of both types of infection is the acute nature of the clinical course of the disease. The disease develops within a few days and requires immediate treatment to prevent serious complications. An exception to this rule is tuberculous meningitis, which may not manifest itself in any way for several weeks or even months.

The causes of meningitis

The main causative agent of the disease is meningococcal infection. In most cases, it is transmitted by airborne droplets. The source of infection is a sick person, and you can catch the infection anywhere, from public transport to polyclinics. In children's groups, the pathogen can cause real epidemics of the disease. Note also that when a meningococcal infection enters the human body, purulent meningitis usually develops. We will talk about it in more detail in one of the following sections.

The second most common cause of the disease is various viruses. Most often, enterovirus infection leads to damage to the meninges of the brain, however, the disease can also develop in the presence of the herpes virus, measles, mumps or rubella.

Other factors that provoke meningitis in children and adults include:

• boils on the neck or face;
• frontal;
• sinusitis;
• acute and chronic otitis media;
• lung abscess;
• osteomyelitis of the bones of the skull.

Reactive meningitis

Reactive meningitis is one of the most dangerous forms of infection. It is often called lightning fast because of the extremely transient clinical picture. If medical assistance was provided too late, the patient falls into a coma and dies from multiple purulent foci in the brain area. If doctors began to treat reactive meningitis within the first day, the consequences will not be so serious, but they can also threaten a person's life. Timely diagnosis, which is carried out by taking a lumbar puncture, is of great importance in reactive meningitis.

Purulent meningitis in adults and children

Purulent meningitis is characterized by the development of cerebral, general infectious and meningeal syndromes, as well as lesions of the central nervous system and inflammatory processes in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 90% of the reported cases, the causative agent of the disease was infection. If a child develops purulent meningitis, the symptoms at first resemble a common cold or flu, but after a few hours, patients have characteristic signs of meningeal infection:

• very severe headache;
• repeated vomiting;
• confusion of consciousness;
• the appearance of a rash;
• neck muscle tension
• strabismus;
• pain when trying to pull the head to the chest.

In addition to the above symptoms of meningitis, children also have some other signs: drowsiness, convulsions, diarrhea, pulsation of the large fontanelle.

Meningitis treatment

Patients with meningitis are subject to immediate hospitalization. Do not try to treat meningitis with folk remedies and do not postpone calling an ambulance at all, as jokes with an infection can easily end in disability or death.

Antibiotics are the drugs of choice for treating meningitis. It should be noted that in about 20% of cases, it is still not possible to identify the cause of the disease, therefore, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in hospitals in order to affect all probable pathogens. The course of antibiotic therapy lasts at least 10 days. This period increases in the presence of purulent foci in the region of the skull.

Currently, meningitis in adults and children is treated with penicillin, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime. If they do not give the expected effect, then the patients are prescribed vancomycin and carbapenems. They have serious side effects and are used only when there is a real risk of life-threatening complications.

If there is a severe course of meningitis, the patient is prescribed an endolumbar administration of antibiotics, in which the drugs go directly into the spinal canal.

YouTube video related to the article:

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

Effective treatment depends on several factors at once:

1. timely detection of signs of illness and referral to a doctor;
2. accurate diagnosis and identification of causes;
3. the right strategy for therapy, recovery and prevention.

The listed aspects are of considerable complexity. A major symptom, such as severe headache, may be mistakenly associated with other medical conditions. And to determine the causative agent of meningitis, for example, the fungus with which the virus is transmitted, is often possible only by doing 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 often, there are phenomena when 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 should be noted the facts confirmed by statistics: bacteria, getting into 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 the age of five;
• adolescents during puberty;
• aged people.

An increased danger is represented by a long stay in a crowd or constant interaction with a large group of people:

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

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

Disease classification

The treatment that a qualified doctor selects depends entirely on what type of inflammation belongs to. The disease is classified according to three criteria:

1. cause of occurrence;
2. development speed;
3. flow form.

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

From the point of view of origin, the disease is divided into primary and secondary. And by etiology - on fungal, bacterial or viral.

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

The causes of meningitis

The disease meningitis, as already noted, can be contracted, or you can get sick as a result of complications after other ailments, for example, the flu or chronic sinusitis.

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

One of the subtypes of viral meningitis is herpes simplex. With a weakened human immunity, this virus can provoke the onset of a chronic illness.

Viral meningitis is easy to get sick in a crowded place if you don't follow good personal hygiene (such as washing your hands). There have been cases of diseases in children and adolescents who have been in summer camps.

Most often, meningitis in children appears if:

• the baby was premature;
• there were injuries during childbirth;
• there were disorders in the functioning of the nervous system.

The causes of meningitis in adults are broader. There are even such rare cases as a disease of the meninges after X-ray therapy or chemical intoxication.

Alcoholism is a common cause of the onset of meningitis. 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

Among the most common symptoms of meningitis are:

• heat;
• photophobia;
• weakness and;
• pain 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 you do not start treatment immediately, the consequences will be dire for the patient.

In viral meningitis, symptoms are initially observed that resemble a common respiratory illness: a "dull" headache, weakness, high fever, runny nose and possible cough appear. Further, 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:

1. The headache extends to the back of the head. It is difficult for a person to tilt his head forward. The neck is often numb and has difficulty turning to the side. In acute attacks of headache, the eyeballs are so tense that it is almost impossible to move the eyes up, down, or sideways.
2. A characteristic rash appears on the body - red-purple spots. Usually in the armpits or on the legs, gradually spreading throughout the body. A meningitis rash can appear as large or small asterisks. 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 too restless. But rash, headache, and frequent regurgitation remain common symptoms. In infants, a tense fontanelle is noted.

Signs of meningitis in adults can have 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 painkillers 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 with a rash, the temperature rises to 40 degrees. In these cases, you can not hesitate to see a doctor. At the first sign, it is better to immediately undergo an examination and avoid consequences or complications.

What is the danger

Unfortunately, the statistics on deaths from meningitis are rather sad. Treatment, started late, is not always able to prevent death or consequences in the form of mental retardation, loss of vision, hearing, or full physical activity.

Meningitis symptoms are sometimes difficult to recognize in time. Sometimes there is no characteristic rash for which the diagnosis of meningitis becomes faster. In addition, people who are inclined to self-medicate make themselves erroneous diagnoses: they think they have caught the common 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 spread quickly through unwashed hands or dishes. A sick person risks not only his health, but also the well-being of the people around him.

Diagnosis of meningitis

A meningitis rash greatly simplifies the diagnosis of the disease. However, there are times when this characteristic symptom is absent. Then additional methods of examining the patient are used:

1. Nasal discharge is analyzed. Fluid testing may reveal the presence of a bacteria such as pneumococcus in the body.
2. An accurate diagnosis of meningitis is possible by taking a puncture. This is a rather unpleasant procedure. However, the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from the lumbar spine allows you to quickly determine the type of meningitis and prescribe adequate treatment.
3. Testing a patient for symptoms of Kernig, Hermann, Brudzinski, etc. For example, according to the Kerning system, it is difficult for a patient with meningitis to straighten the knee while the person is sitting, and the Brudzinski test checks the ability to pull the knees to the stomach while trying to pull the chin to the chest.

Joint dysfunctions 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

The methods of therapy are selected in accordance with whether it is necessary to treat meningitis in children or in adults, at what stage of development the ailment is, 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:

1. Therapy of the meningococcal type includes taking penicillin, meglumine, mulfanomethoxin and other drugs.
2. It is customary to treat pneumococcal species with ampicillin, kanamycin sulfate and benzylpenicillin sodium salt.
3. The tuberculous type of meningitis usually requires the appointment 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, potent antibiotics can cause even greater negative consequences.

Almost all patients are prescribed diuretics, since it is important to remove toxins from the body. General strengthening and immunity-supporting medications are prescribed. Symptomatic treatment is selected for the purpose of relief.

Unfortunately, there is no universal therapy regimen. Too many different factors influence the right choice of drugs. Therefore, it is categorically not recommended to self-medicate or use folk remedies. Only professional help will help to avoid the effects 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. Preventing meningitis infection involves simple, easy-to-follow safety measures:

1. Always wash your hands before eating.
2. Have personal utensils. Do not drink from the same mug with other people.
3. While in nature, protect yourself from insect bites (which can spread the infection).
4. Monitor the tone of your immunity: give up bad habits, take care of good nutrition and rest, replenish the vitamin supply during demi-season periods.
5. Do not self-medicate. At the slightest suspicion of an inflammation of the meninges, a doctor should be called.

A meningitis vaccine can be a good preventive measure. It can be done even for a child from 2 months old. Vaccination is usually given to children under 4-5 years of age.

Headache with sinusitis and after a puncture: treatment methods