- What causes meningitis
- When you suspect meningitis
- How to get
- How to protect yourself
- How the treatment is done
Meningitis is a severe inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes that line the brain and the entire spinal cord, generating symptoms such as severe headache, fever, nausea and stiff neck, for example.
As it is an inflammation that affects brain structures, meningitis must be identified as soon as possible, by a general practitioner or a neurologist, to begin treatment and prevent the development of injuries that can result in permanent sequelae or even death.
What causes meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges usually arises due to an infection of the cerebrospinal fluid, which is almost always caused by one of these types of microorganisms:
- Viruses, causing viral meningitis; Bacteria, generating bacterial meningitis; Fungi, causing fungal meningitis; Parasites, leading to parasitic meningitis.
In addition, strong strokes, some drugs and even some types of chronic diseases, such as lupus, or cancer can also cause meningitis, without having a specific infection.
Since the treatment varies according to the cause of the inflammation, it is very important that the doctor identifies the type of meningitis to start the most appropriate treatment. For example, in the case of bacterial meningitis it is usually necessary to make antibiotics, while in fungal it is necessary to start using an antifungal, for example.
Learn more about the types of meningitis.
When you suspect meningitis
Some symptoms that may indicate possible meningitis include:
- Fever above 38ºC; Very severe headache; Stiff neck, with difficulty in resting the chin on the chest; Red spots on the body; Hypersensitivity to light; Excessive drowsiness with difficulty in waking up; Confusion; Convulsions.
In the baby and the child, other symptoms may also arise that lead the parents to suspect a possible meningitis such as loud crying, easy irritability, difficulty in moving the head and even a more tense soft spot, seeming slightly swollen.
How to get
The transmission of meningitis can vary widely, depending on the type of microorganism that is causing the inflammation. In the case of viral meningitis, the risk of transmission is very low because, although the virus can pass to the other person, it usually does not cause meningitis, but another disease, such as mumps or measles, for example, depending on the type of virus.
In the case of meningitis caused by bacteria, this transmission is easier and can happen through sharing the same dish of food or through droplets of saliva, which can pass through coughing, sneezing, kissing or speaking, for example. In addition, when the infected person uses the bathroom and does not wash their hands properly, it can also spread the bacteria.
Handshakes, hugs and sharing of most personal items do not pose a health risk.
How to protect yourself
The best type of prevention against meningitis is to have a vaccination, which protects against the main microorganisms that can cause the disease. Thus, even if one comes into contact with the viruses or bacteria that usually cause meningitis, the risk of developing the disease is very low. Learn about the main types of vaccine against meningitis and when to take it.
In addition, some measures that also help to decrease the risk of getting meningitis include:
- Avoid close contact with sick people; Wash your hands after being in public places; Avoid smoking.
People with meningitis also have to be careful to avoid passing the disease, such as washing their hands frequently, avoiding going to public places and covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, for example.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for meningitis depends on its cause and can be treated with antibiotics, anti-viral or corticosteroids in a hospital setting. Some drugs that can be used in bacterial meningitis are cefotaxime and ampicillin, or acyclovir, in the case of viral meningitis, and depending on the severity of the disease, the patient can be kept in the Intensive Care Unit.
Treatment must be started promptly to decrease the risk of complications. The duration of treatment for meningitis is approximately 5 to 10 days, and in the first 24 hours of treatment, the person must be isolated to prevent transmission of the disease to others. It is important to monitor your friends and family for a minimum of 10 days, as they may already be infected.
If the treatment is not started properly, permanent sequelae may occur, such as loss of vision or hearing. See more about how different types of meningitis are treated.
