If dealt with quickly, meningitis can be treated successfully. So it's important to get routine vaccinations, know the signs of meningitis, and get medical care right away if you think that your child has the illness. Most cases are caused by bacteria or viruses , but some can be due to certain medicines or illnesses. Many of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are fairly common and cause other routine illnesses.
Both kinds of meningitis spread like most other common infections do — someone who's infected touches, kisses, or coughs or sneezes on someone who isn't infected. Bacterial meningitis is rare, but is usually serious and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria spread to the meninges from a severe head trauma or a severe local infection, such as a serious ear infection otitis media or nasal sinus infection sinusitis. Many different types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis. In newborns, the most common causes are group B strep , E. In older kids, Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumococcus and Neisseria meningitidis meningococcus are often the causes. Viral meningitis also called aseptic meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually less serious.
Many of the viruses that cause meningitis are common, such as those that cause colds , diarrhea , cold sores , and the flu.
Meningitis symptoms vary, depending on the person's age and the cause of the infection. The first symptoms can come on quickly or start several days after someone has had a cold, diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of an infection.
Infants with meningitis might have different symptoms. Babies might be cranky, feed poorly, and be sleepy or hard to wake up. Van de Beek D, et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis.
The Lancet. Recommended immunization schedules for children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger, United States, Recommended adult immunization schedule for adults aged 19 or older, United States, Meningococcal vaccination: What everyone should know. Sexton D. Approach to the patient with chronic meningitis.
Tunkel A. Aseptic meningitis in adults. Di Pentima C. Viral meningitis: Management, prognosis, and prevention in children. Parasitic meningitis. Rabinstein AA expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Summary of WHO position papers — Recommendations for routine immunization.
World Health Organization. Summary of WHO position papers — Recommendations for routine immunizations for children. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
This may include anyone who's been in prolonged close contact with someone who developed meningitis, such as:. People who have only had brief contact with someone who developed meningitis will not usually need to take antibiotics. Page last reviewed: 08 March Next review due: 08 March Tests in hospital Several tests may be carried out to confirm the diagnosis and check whether the condition is the result of a viral or bacterial infection.
These tests may include: a physical examination to look for symptoms of meningitis a blood test to check for bacteria or viruses a lumbar puncture — where a sample of fluid is taken from the spine and checked for bacteria or viruses a CT scan to check for any problems with the brain, such as swelling As bacterial meningitis can be very serious, treatment with antibiotics will usually start before the diagnosis is confirmed and will be stopped later on if tests show the condition is being caused by a virus.
If present with meningitis, a bacterial infection is usually to blame. Viral meningitis does not typically involve the blood and is not associated with sepsis.
A blood culture may be done if a bacterial infection is suspected. A sample of blood is examined for the growth of bacteria under a microscope. A spinal tap is the only test that can confirm a diagnosis of meningitis. You will either lie on your side with your legs bent toward your body in a fetal position or you will sit up with your upper body bent over slightly. Your healthcare provider will sterilize an area of skin on your lower back and insert a hollow needle to allow CSF to be extracted.
Your practitioner may measure the fluid pressure once your CSF starts to flow into the needle. The fluid is sent to a laboratory for examination, where it is analyzed for proteins, white blood cells, blood, and infectious organisms. The results provide a great deal of information about a case of meningitis. The most common side effect of a spinal tap is a headache, which typically lasts for a few hours.
You can offset it by drinking fluids before and after the procedure and lying down for a few hours afterward. An EEG is a test that measures the electrical activity of the brain. It is usually used to evaluate seizures and changes in consciousness. While it is not common for meningitis to cause erratic electrical activity in the brain, you might need an EEG if you have either of these. Both are signs of severe meningitis that has advanced to encephalitis , an infection or inflammation of the brain.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. The symptoms of meningitis may be similar to symptoms of other common disorders that affect the nervous system. Imaging can quickly help distinguish them. Brain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging MRI or computed tomography CT can sometimes detect inflammation of meningitis.
This is typically done along with a contrast, a substance that gets injected into a vein so tissues stand out more on scans. While meningitis does not always produce the appearance of inflammation during brain imaging, these studies can also help identify other conditions—such as brain tumors , stroke , bleeding in the brain , abscesses , or encephalitis—that may present with similar symptoms.
It can also identify other problems such as tumors, bleeding, or abscesses. A chest X-ray can identify an infection in the chest or lungs, which may be a sign that an infectious bacteria or virus is affecting other areas of the body besides the meninges. A spinal tap is needed to confirm a diagnosis of meningitis and to help identify the type of infection.
Physical exams, blood tests, and imaging may also be done to help reach the diagnosis, rule out other conditions, or check for complications. Some symptoms of meningitis—pain and fever, for example—overlap with those of other infections and conditions, particularly early on. As a healthcare provider works toward a diagnosis, they may look to rule out the following. Meningitis causes symptoms that are very similar to those of a routine viral infection. The biggest difference is that meningitis symptoms more often involve the head, neck, and eyes.
Other infections often involve the throat and sinuses and cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sometimes, however, meningitis is accompanied by the flu. Migraine headaches cause severe head and neck pain, nausea, and light-headedness, and may even produce neurological symptoms. Do not assume that your head or neck pain is a migraine headache if you have never had one before.
If you have had migraine headaches, seek medical attention if your pain is different than usual or is accompanied by a fever. A severe infection affecting the body as a whole can produce symptoms similar to those of meningitis, including headaches and fevers. The biggest difference is that systemic infection does not normally cause pain that changes with your body position the way that meningitis does.
Encephalitis is inflammation or infection of the brain. It is more serious and life-threatening than meningitis and requires high-level care to prevent permanent neurological damage. It is not common, but meningitis can progress to encephalitis, especially if you have an immune deficiency. The major difference between the two is that muscle strain pain is typically centered around a particular muscle and may worsen with its movement.
The pain of meningitis tends to worsen primarily by changing the position of the head and neck. A brain abscess is a type of infection in the brain that is localized to one area. Unlike meningitis, it is less likely to cause a fever. If you have low blood pressure for any reason, such as dehydration, blood loss, or a medical condition, you can experience dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. As with meningitis, your symptoms can worsen with changes in body position.
Your healthcare provider can measure your blood pressure with a quick, non-invasive test. Seizures often cause changes in consciousness and may be associated with lightheadedness, dizziness, and headaches.
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