Meningitis can cause sequelae that affect both the physical, intellectual and psychological capacity of patients, with a common lack of balance, memory loss and vision problems.
In general, bacterial meningitis causes sequelae more frequently and severely than viral meningitis, but both forms of the disease can cause complications and affect people's quality of life, especially in children.
The most common sequelae caused by this disease are:
- Hearing loss and partial or total vision; Epilepsy; Memory and concentration problems; Learning disabilities, both in children and adults; Delayed motor development, with difficulty walking and balancing; Paralysis on one side of the body or both; Amputation of limbs, when necessary to stop the spread of the disease to the rest of the body; Arthritis and bone problems; Kidney problems; Difficulty sleeping; Urinary incontinence.
Patients who cure meningitis may have no sequelae, only mild sequelae or serious problems, and may need special care for the rest of their lives.
How to deal with the sequels
Care after the cure of meningitis is done according to the sequelae that the disease has left, and it may be necessary to use hearing aids to improve sound capture and the ability to hear, prostheses to replace limbs that have been amputated and physiotherapy to improve balance and movements.
In addition, the use of medications may be necessary to control problems such as arthritis, seizures and restlessness, and monitoring with psychotherapy helps to deal with and accept the consequences of the disease, working both with the affected patient and with family members and caregivers.
How to avoid the sequelae
There are ways to minimize the consequences or even prevent the disease from developing, with the use of vaccination for example.
There are already vaccines against certain types of meningococcal meningitis of types A, C, W135 and Y that can prevent the onset of the disease. In addition, places with a lot of people should be avoided, ventilated environments maintained and the houses and public places properly cleaned. See how meningitis is transmitted and how to protect yourself.
If the disease is detected and treated early on, the chances of sequelae are reduced.
