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Meninges- is a thin layer that covers the brain and spine. When this gets infected, its called meningitis.
 
This is a highly dangerous disease as it involved the brain ( brain controls all functions of body)
 
 
FUNCTIONS OF BRAIN(in general)
  • Controls Heart- blood pressure, colour
  • Controls breathing
  • Maintains consciousness, alertness, nerve connections to eye, ear, mouth and many more
  • So any changes in this should be inspected

 

CAUSES
  • Bacteria
  • Virus- in babies and in people with low resistance( immunocompromised)
  • Fungus

 

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:

  • High temperature (fever)
  • Vomiting- due to increasing pressure in brain
  • A headache
  • Bleed into skin – petechiae(use glass test to diagnose- on pressing the rash with glass tumbler the rash does not disappear)
  • Neck stiffness
  • Irritation on seeing bright light
  • Drowsy( not able to wake up) or altered consciousness( abnormal behaviour)
  • Seizures (fits)
These symptoms may or may not be present. In any suspicion, see a doctor immediately.
 
SIGNS IN NEWBORNS
  • High risk if mother had bacterial or chicken pox infection during delivery
  • High fever / Excess crying
  • Excessive sleepiness or irritability
  • Poor feeding
  • Bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby’s head (fontanel)
  • Stiffness/ Fits
  • Decreased body temperature/ pale looking

 

RISK FACTORS
  • Skipping vaccinations.
  • Age- Mostly seen in children less than age 5. Bacterial meningitis is common in children below 20 years.
  • Compromised immune system.
  • Having spleen removed also increases risk, and patients without a spleen should get vaccinated to minimize that risk
  • Crowed environment- The bacteria spreads through droplets from mouth/ nose.

 

DIAGNOSIS
  • BLOOD TEST
    The organisms are tried to grow to find the bug and its sensitivity to antibiotics
  • LUMBAR PUNCTURE
    This is the most important investigations. Make sure you ask your doctor for this.
    In this test, a few drops from the back is taken to investigate. Its the same fluid that circulates in the brain. The fluid is cultured to grow the bug.
    It causes some pain, but without this, we don’t know what we are treating. insist for this test, until contraindicated.
  • SCANS- CT/ MRI

 

TREATMENT
  • Get the child assessed by a doctor immediately.
  • Treatments include to stabilise the patient and give antibiotics
  • Antibiotics are always given through a vein. Never oral antibiotics
  • If low oxygen levels- breathing support
  • If blood pressure issues- Medications to increase blood pressure
  • If fits- anti-fit medications
  • If viral meningitis caused by chicken pox, then immediately antiviral medications restarted

IF HISTORY OF EXPOSURE, THEN ALL THE MEMBERS HAVE TO BE TREATED WITH ORAL ANTIBIOTICS IMMEDIATELY SO THEY DONT DEVELOP THE DISEASE.

Prevention- get your child immunised against meningitis( done in early months of life)
 
DANGER SIGNS
  • Bleed into skin
  • Change in consciousness
  • Fits
  • Drowsy, unconsciousness

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