- Symptoms of bacterial meningitis
- Contagion of bacterial meningitis
- Sequelae of bacterial meningitis
- Treatment for bacterial meningitis
- Medicines
Bacterial meningitis is the infection that causes inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Haemophilus influenzae , for example.
Generally, bacterial meningitis is a serious condition that can be life-threatening if not treated properly. Despite this, bacterial meningitis is curable, but the person must be taken to the hospital as soon as the first symptoms appear to receive the appropriate treatment.
If you want to know information about viral meningitis see here.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis
The bacterium's incubation time is usually 4 days until the person begins to show the first symptoms of meningitis, which can be:
- Fever above 38ยบ C; Severe headache; Pain when turning the neck; Purple spots on the skin; Muscular stiffness in the neck; Tiredness and apathy; Sensitivity to light or sound; Mental confusion.
In addition to these, symptoms of meningitis in the baby may include irritability, loud crying, convulsions, and hard and tense softness. Learn to recognize other signs and symptoms of childhood meningitis here.
The doctor can arrive at the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis after observing the presented symptoms and the cerebrospinal cerebrospinal fluid examination. The antibiogram performed using CSF is important to identify the type of bacteria that is causing meningitis because there are antibiotics more suitable for each type of bacteria. Find out about other tests needed for diagnosis are here.
Contagion of bacterial meningitis
The contagion of bacterial meningitis happens through contact with droplets of saliva of the individual. Here's what to do to avoid catching bacterial meningitis.
Therefore, a patient with meningitis should wear a face mask, sold at the pharmacy, and avoid coughing, sneezing or talking too close to healthy individuals. However, prevention of bacterial meningitis can be done with the meningitis vaccine, which should be taken by children at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
In addition to spreading from one person to another, meningitis can occur if the baby is infected with Streptococcus at the time of delivery, a bacterium that may be in the mother's vagina, but does not cause symptoms. See how to prevent it here.
Sequelae of bacterial meningitis
The sequelae of bacterial meningitis include:
- Brain disorders; Deafness; Motor paralysis; Epilepsy; Learning difficulties.
Usually, the sequelae of bacterial meningitis arise when treatment is not done properly, especially in individuals over 50 or children. Know other possible consequences of meningitis.
Treatment for bacterial meningitis
Treatment for bacterial meningitis should be done at the hospital with the injection of antibiotics, but the person may be hospitalized in isolation for the first 24 hours after starting antibiotics and may return home after 14 or 28 days, when she is cured.
Medicines
Preferably, the doctor should indicate antibiotics according to the bacteria involved:
| Causing bacteria | Medication |
| Neisseria meningitidis | Penicillin
G. Crystalline or Ampicillin |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | Penicillin
G. Crystalline |
| Haemophilus influenzae | Chloramphenicol or Ceftriaxone |
In children the doctor may prescribe Prednisone.
Antibiotics may start to be taken as soon as meningitis is suspected, and if the tests prove that it is not a disease, it may not be necessary to continue this type of treatment. In addition to medication, it may be important to take serum through your vein. If the doctor cannot find out which bacteria is causing meningitis, he may indicate a combination of antibiotics such as Penicillin G. Crystalline + Ampicillin or Chloramphenicol or Ceftriaxone, for example.
