Meningitis is how many years people live with it. Can meningitis be cured?

Inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Pachymeningitis is inflammation of the dura mater, leptomeningitis is inflammation of the soft and arachnoid meninges. Inflammation of the soft membranes is more common; in such cases, the term “meningitis” is used. Its causative agents can be certain pathogenic microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi; Protozoal meningitis is less common. Meningitis is manifested by severe headache, hyperesthesia, vomiting, stiff neck, typical position of the patient in bed, hemorrhagic rashes on the skin. To confirm the diagnosis of meningitis and establish its etiology, a lumbar puncture and subsequent examination of the cerebrospinal fluid are performed.

General information

Inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Pachymeningitis is inflammation of the dura mater, leptomeningitis is inflammation of the soft and arachnoid meninges. Inflammation of the soft membranes is more common; in such cases, the term “meningitis” is used. Its causative agents can be certain pathogenic microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi; Protozoal meningitis is less common.

Etiology and pathogenesis of meningitis

Meningitis can occur through several routes of infection. Contact route - the occurrence of meningitis occurs in conditions of an already existing purulent infection. The development of sinusogenic meningitis is promoted by purulent infection of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis), otogenic - mastoid process or middle ear (otitis), odontogenic - dental pathology. The introduction of infectious agents into the meninges is possible by lymphogenous, hematogenous, transplacental, perineural routes, as well as in conditions of liquorrhea with open traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, fissure or fracture of the base of the skull.

Infectious agents entering the body through the entrance gates (bronchi, gastrointestinal tract, nasopharynx) cause inflammation (of the serous or purulent type) of the meninges and adjacent brain tissue. Their subsequent swelling leads to disruption of microcirculation in the vessels of the brain and its membranes, slowing down the resorption of cerebrospinal fluid and its hypersecretion. At the same time, intracranial pressure increases, and cerebral hydrocele develops. Further spread of the inflammatory process to the substance of the brain, the roots of the cranial and spinal nerves is possible.

Classification of meningitis

Clinical picture of meningitis

The symptom complex of any form of meningitis includes general infectious symptoms (fever, chills, increased body temperature), increased breathing and disturbance of its rhythm, changes in heart rate (at the onset of the disease, tachycardia, as the disease progresses - bradycardia).

Meningitis is characterized by hyperesthesia of the skin and pain of the skull upon percussion. At the beginning of the disease, there is an increase in tendon reflexes, but as the disease progresses, they decrease and often disappear. If brain matter is involved in the inflammatory process, paralysis, pathological reflexes and paresis develop. Severe meningitis is usually accompanied by dilated pupils, diplopia, strabismus, and impaired control of the pelvic organs (in the case of the development of mental disorders).

Symptoms of meningitis in old age are atypical: mild headaches or their complete absence, tremors of the head and limbs, drowsiness, mental disorders (apathy or, conversely, psychomotor agitation).

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis

The main method for diagnosing (or excluding) meningitis is a lumbar puncture followed by examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. This method is supported by its safety and simplicity, therefore lumbar puncture is indicated in all cases of suspected meningitis. All forms of meningitis are characterized by leakage of fluid under high pressure (sometimes in a stream). With serous meningitis, the cerebrospinal fluid is clear (sometimes slightly opalescent); with purulent meningitis, it is cloudy and yellow-green in color. Using laboratory tests of cerebrospinal fluid, pleocytosis is determined (neutrophils in purulent meningitis, lymphocytes in serous meningitis), changes in the cell number ratio and increased protein content.

In order to clarify the etiological factors of the disease, it is recommended to determine the level of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid. In the case of tuberculous meningitis, as well as meningitis caused by fungi, glucose levels decrease. For purulent meningitis, a significant (to zero) decrease in glucose levels is typical.

The main guidelines for a neurologist in differentiating meningitis are the study of cerebrospinal fluid, namely the determination of the ratio of cells, sugar and protein levels.

Treatment of meningitis

If meningitis is suspected, hospitalization of the patient is mandatory. In case of severe prehospital stage (depression of consciousness, fever), the patient is administered prednisolone and benzylpenicillin. Prehospital lumbar puncture is contraindicated.

The basis for the treatment of purulent meningitis is the early administration of sulfonamides (etazol, norsulfazole) or antibiotics (penicillin). Allows intralumbar administration of benzylpenicillin (in extremely severe cases). If such treatment of meningitis is ineffective during the first 3 days, therapy with semisynthetic antibiotics (ampicillin + oxacillin, carbenicillin) in combination with monomycin, gentamicin, nitrofurans should be continued. The effectiveness of this combination of antibiotics has been proven before the pathogenic organism is isolated and its sensitivity to antibiotics is determined. The maximum duration of such combination therapy is 2 weeks, after which it is necessary to switch to monotherapy. Criteria for withdrawal also include a decrease in body temperature, normalization of cytosis (up to 100 cells), regression of cerebral and meningeal symptoms.

The basis of complex treatment of tuberculous meningitis is the continuous administration of bacteriostatic doses of two or three antibiotics (for example, isoniazid + streptomycin). If possible side effects occur (vestibular disorders, hearing impairment, nausea), discontinuation of this treatment is not required; a reduction in the dose of antibiotics and temporary addition to the treatment of desensitizing drugs (diphenhydramine, promethazine), as well as other anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifampicin, PAS, ftivazid) are indicated. Indications for discharge of the patient: absence of symptoms of tuberculous meningitis, sanitation of cerebrospinal fluid (after 6 months from the onset of the disease) and improvement in the general condition of the patient.

Treatment of viral meningitis may be limited to the use of symptomatic and restorative drugs (glucose, metamizole sodium, vitamins, methyluracil). In severe cases (severe cerebral symptoms), corticosteroids and diuretics are prescribed, and less commonly, a repeat spinal puncture. In case of bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Forecast

The form of meningitis, timeliness and adequacy of treatment measures play an important role in the further prognosis. Headaches, intracranial hypertension, epileptic seizures, visual and hearing impairments often remain as residual symptoms after tuberculous and purulent meningitis. Due to late diagnosis and resistance of the pathogen to antibiotics, the mortality rate from purulent meningitis (meningococcal infection) is high.

Prevention

As preventive measures to prevent meningitis, regular hardening (water treatments, sports), timely treatment of chronic and acute infectious diseases, as well as short courses of immunostimulating drugs (Eleutherococcus, ginseng) in areas of meningococcal meningitis (kindergarten, school, etc.) are provided.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain of a bacterial or viral nature. This disease is quite dangerous due to the localization of the inflammatory process - the spread of the process to the brain tissue entails many serious consequences.

The outcome of the disease directly depends on the adequacy and timeliness of treatment, which is almost impossible to provide at home, so meningitis is treated in a hospital setting. How long will the treatment take and how long will the hospitalization last?

Treatment of meningitis is carried out in a hospital setting

A little about the disease

It is impossible to establish the exact duration of treatment for meningitis - it consists of many individual characteristics of the body and the clinical course of the disease. The form of the disease, depending on the etiological factor and the severity of the patient’s condition, are of decisive importance.

Meningitis can be caused by a large number of microorganisms and viruses, among which are often:

• Meningococcus.
• Haemophilus influenzae.
• Pneumococcus.
• Tuberculosis bacillus.
• Viruses.
• Mushrooms.
• Chlamydia.
• Protozoa.

In addition, meningitis is divided into primary, which arose independently, without previous infections, and secondary, which is a consequence of some infectious process in another part of the body. The pathogen can penetrate into the brain in several ways - hematogenous (through the circulatory system), lymphogenous (through the lymphatic vessels) and contact (in the presence of a purulent-inflammatory focus in communicating areas).

The disease is accompanied by multiple pathological changes:

• The production of cerebrospinal fluid increases.
• The permeability of the blood-brain barrier increases.
• The blood supply to the brain is disrupted, especially the microvasculature.
• Toxins negatively affect brain tissue.
• The outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is obstructed, which leads to hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain).
• Signs of hypoxia are increasing.
• Brain swelling occurs.
• The process gradually spreads to the substance and ventricles of the brain.

The symptoms of meningitis vary depending on the etiological factor, but we can identify the main ones that are common to all forms of the disease. In most cases, the disease begins with an intense headache, spreading over the entire surface of the head and growing to unbearable. After some time, nausea appears and vomiting is possible. Patients take a characteristic position on their side, with their head thrown back and legs tucked to their stomach. Meningococcal infection is accompanied by a characteristic rash on the body, pneumococcal infection is accompanied by rhinitis, and enterovirus additionally causes digestive disorders.

Factors influencing the duration of treatment

If you suspect meningitis, you should call an ambulance

There is no clear answer to the question of how long it will take to treat the disease.

The duration of drug therapy depends on many factors that are taken into account when drawing up an individual treatment plan.

They matter:

• The form of the disease - bacterial meningitis is more severe than viral meningitis.
• General condition of the body and age of the patient - preschool children and older people get sick longer, the clinical picture is more severe; Concomitant chronic diseases can complicate treatment and prolong hospitalization.
• Time to start treatment - timely diagnosis and the start of treatment measures help to bring recovery closer; If the disease is detected late, the prognosis is less favorable and treatment will take longer.
• Individual sensitivity of the body to incoming medications.

Duration of treatment depending on the form of the disease

The length of treatment in a hospital depends on the form of meningitis - the more severe the clinical picture, the more time it takes for complete recovery.

Meningococcal meningitis

This is what meningococcus looks like

This form of meningitis is often accompanied by cerebral edema, hyperemia and the appearance of infiltrates on the surface of the brain matter. In case of timely (within the first day from the onset of clinical manifestations) detection of the disease, it is possible to prevent further spread of the process and reduce the treatment time. Advanced meningococcal meningitis or irrational drug therapy can lead to severe pathological processes, as a result of which treatment measures are delayed and do not always give the desired result. On average, treatment for this form of the disease lasts from two to five to six weeks, with a prolonged course – up to 8 weeks.

Purulent and tuberculous meningitis

Purulent inflammation of the meninges is severe - pus fills the subarachnoid space, meningeal symptoms are pronounced, the patient's condition is serious. On average, the clinical course of this form of the disease lasts about 4-5 weeks; the prognosis is favorable if adequate treatment is started in a timely manner.

Symptoms of tuberculous meningitis increase slowly over several weeks. Treatment is also quite long - specific medications are taken for 12-18 months.

For tuberculous meningitis, the patient is prescribed anti-tuberculosis drugs

Average length of disability after meningitis

The duration of disability depends on the form of the disease: after mild serous meningitis, the duration of disability is at least two to three weeks. More severe forms of the disease are accompanied by loss of working capacity for five to six months or more. It is possible to return to work only after complete elimination of all symptoms, and the patient is provided with special working conditions with a reduced workload ahead of schedule. For six months after discharge, the worker is exempt from night shifts and overtime assignments. If symptoms persist, sick leave is extended for one to two months. If 4-6 months after discharge from the hospital the symptoms do not disappear, the patient is sent for a medical and social examination to be assigned a disability group.

Meningitis must be treated in a timely manner, otherwise the patient may have various complications.

This article will describe the features of the treatment of meningitis, the causes of its occurrence, the types of this disease, as well as the symptoms that appear in a patient with meningitis.

General information

Meningitis occurs mainly in adults. Meningitis is quite dangerous, because if it is not treated in a timely manner, the patient may die.

During this disease, inflammation of the walls of the brain or spinal cord occurs. The disease provokes weakness in the part of the brain where inflammation is concentrated.

Meningitis in children and adults can occur in both secondary and primary forms.

With primary meningitis, a one-time lesion occurs in certain areas of the brain or spinal cord.

As for secondary meningitis, it appears as a complication or pathology of another disease.

In this case, secondary meningitis is the spread of infection throughout the body, which leads to brain damage.

Meningitis always begins with a person feeling unwell. Its main symptom, discomfort in the head area, occurs almost immediately.

For example, meningitis can occur against the background of otitis media or mumps.

Almost all symptoms of meningitis appear on the first day after infection. The disease progresses quite quickly. Its occurrence can be associated with a number of factors.

In most cases, the causes of meningitis are related to another disease. That is, meningitis occurs as a result of the development of another disease that poses a danger to the patient’s life.

However, some infectious types of meningitis, such as tuberculosis, develop slowly.

As practice shows, the disease can affect not only adults, but also children and the elderly. It happens that meningitis occurs in infants.

That is, age is not a determining category for susceptibility to meningitis. Often the causes of meningitis are related to the condition of the body itself.

For example, premature babies can get meningitis. What is this connected with? The reasons for their susceptibility to this disease are the bitterness of the body.

Meningitis also often occurs in patients who have any defects of the central nervous system, as well as in those who have had head injuries, especially the brain.

In addition, meningitis can appear in women during the birth process.

The risks of this disease increase with exposure to mucous membranes, contact with dirty water or food, and bites of dangerous insects.

Classification

The main types of meningitis, depending on the cause of its occurrence:

Each disease manifests itself differently. All these meningitis have their own symptoms. They occur in both children and adults. Treatment for meningitis can vary depending on its etymology.

For example, microbial meningitis can become tuberculous or herpetic. In each specific case, therapy should be different.

Inflammation of the brain can have different locations, hence another classification of meningitis:

1. Pachymeningitis. With this disease, only the dura mater of the brain is affected.
2. Meningitis. With this disease, there is inflammation on the soft and arachnoid membrane of the brain.
3. Panmeningitis. In most cases, it occurs in adults. Inflammation in this disease appears on the entire surface of the brain.

The last type of this disease is considered the most severe and dangerous. Inflammation of all areas of the brain requires special medical attention. Treatment, in this case, is the most difficult.

The symptoms that appear with such meningitis bring suffering to the patient.

Meningitis in adults is also divided into serous and purulent. However, some doctors prefer to distinguish another group of this disease – the mixed type.

With mixed meningitis, symptoms of both serous and purulent types appear.

Another classification of meningitis can be distinguished - according to the route of infection of the brain.

In this case, meningitis may be:

A separate type of this disease is meningitis, the causes of which are associated with brain injury. Any type of this disease has a standard symptom - an increase in intracranial pressure.

This symptom leads to brain disease in both adults and children. This disease manifests itself in the form of severe headache discomfort.

In adult patients with meningitis, severe pain begins, which is localized throughout the entire head area, after which you can lose consciousness.

This leads to severe and frequent suffering for patients.

This disease is characterized by bursting pain that permeates the entire head.

However, as practice shows, some patients may feel discomfort during meningitis exclusively in the ears and eyes.

People suffering from meningitis experience a symptom such as increased photosensitivity. Now let's look at the main symptoms of meningitis.

Symptoms

There are a number of signs that allow you to diagnose meningitis and begin treatment on time. Firstly, it must be said that all the symptoms of meningitis correspond to the standard infectious manifestation.

Secondly, it is important for each patient to diagnose meningitis in a timely manner and begin treatment on time. Why is this important?

The fact is that any brain disease is very dangerous not only for human health, but also for his life.

Therefore, the sooner the patient begins treatment for this disease, the greater his chances of a speedy recovery.

But before taking any therapeutic measures, it is necessary to diagnose meningitis. To do this, you need to know its first signs.

• A sharp increase in body temperature. This symptom occurs with any type of disease.
• Severe headache. The first symptoms of this disease are always associated with acute headaches. Discomfort in the initial stage of meningitis can be localized in the forehead, and then in the eyes, ears and back of the head.
• Lack of appetite. This disease leads to a complete loss of interest in eating by the patient, as a result of which he quickly loses body weight.
• Rigidity of the neck muscles. Symptoms of a stiff neck: difficulty turning the head, numbness in the neck.
• Nausea accompanied by vomiting. Meningitis is often accompanied by vomiting, which does not bring the patient the desired relief.
• Skin rashes. This rash is bright pink or red in color. Its characteristic feature is that it completely disappears when pressed. A few hours after the rash appears, small bruises appear on the patient’s body.
• Intestinal disorder. This symptom is more characteristic of children.
• Feeling unwell. The patient is haunted by a feeling of weakness that he feels throughout his body. Due to complete loss of strength, it is difficult for him to even get out of bed.
• Lethargy, depression.

All signs of meningitis lead to the patient becoming withdrawn. All his thoughts are aimed exclusively at poor health, which deprives him of the opportunity to live a normal life.

A person suffering from this disease falls out of the usual rhythm of life. Some patients fall into deep depression, while others, on the contrary, become more excitable and aggressive.

If treatment for meningitis is not started promptly, the patient may experience hallucinations.

In addition to these primary signs, the main symptoms of this disease can be identified:

1. Severe, persistent headache.
2. Increased photosensitivity. It is difficult for the patient to look at bright light, as this leads to headaches.
3. discomfort. He also becomes more sensitive to touch. Increased body temperature. This symptom makes itself felt sharply. Temperatures may rise to degrees.
4. Confusion. This symptom is associated with frequent dizziness.
5. Nausea that occurs even if the patient has not eaten anything.
6. Vomit.
7. Complete lack of appetite.
8. Intestinal disorder due to a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
9. Conjunctivitis.
10. Increased intraocular pressure.
11. Kernig's disease. This disease leads to difficulties that arise when bending the limbs.
12. Brudzinski's disease. This is a disease in which the limbs of the human body move in an arbitrary direction if pressure is applied to them.
13. Pulatov's disease. This disease is characterized by pain that occurs in the head area when it is tapped.
14. Inflammation of the lymph glands.

If meningitis appears in a baby, then the fontanel will be tense. In this case, it bulges and begins to pulsate strongly.

When a baby who has been diagnosed with this disease is picked up, he throws his head back. He also tucks his legs towards his stomach. He performs this action reflexively.

It is also worth noting that this disease has other, nonspecific symptoms. We list the main ones:

• Deterioration of vision. A person diagnosed with meningitis may experience double vision. Some patients experience strabismus.
• Hearing impairment. This symptom manifests itself due to inflammatory processes in the spinal cord or brain.
• Sore throat. This symptom is associated with the patient developing a runny nose and cough.
• Failure in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This phenomenon can lead to both diarrhea and constipation. With any malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient experiences discomfort in the stomach area.
• Epileptic seizure. This symptom of meningitis occurs extremely rarely. Its appearance is possible only at a late stage of the disease. Bradycardia or tachycardia.
• Increased blood pressure. This is a rather dangerous symptom that leads to severe dizziness and fogginess of the patient. In case of hypertension, it is necessary to take therapeutic measures aimed at reducing blood pressure.
• Drowsiness. The feeling of drowsiness does not leave the patient even after waking up during the day. With meningitis, it will occur no matter how many hours a person sleeps.
• Uveitis.

Such symptoms lead to the fact that the patient who has been diagnosed with meningitis becomes irritable. This condition is explained by his poor health.

Complications of the disease

If meningitis is not treated promptly, the patient may experience a number of health problems due to the development of complications.

The main complications that can arise from this disease:

• Epilepsy.
• Mental development disorder. This is a pathology that is often observed in children with meningitis.
• Hearing deterioration leading to complete loss.
• Purulent arthritis.
• Hydrocephalus.
• Anemia, a disorder of normal blood clotting.

The most severe complication of meningitis is death.

Provoking factors

In most cases, the causes of this disease are associated with the entry of pathogenic viruses and infections into the human body.

The main factors that provoke meningitis:

As for provoking viruses, among them are:

Treatment

Treatment of meningitis should be based on an integrated approach. It includes the following therapy:

1. Hospitalization.
2. Taking medications.
3. Bed rest.
4. Antifungal medical methods.
5. Detoxification treatment.
6. Symptomatic treatment.
7. Antibacterial treatment methods.
8. Drug therapy that depends on the causative bacteria.

Meningitis can be cured only if, in addition to these measures, doctors provide symptomatic treatment.

As for hospitalization of the patient, it is necessary, first of all, when a bacterial type of illness occurs.

With such an illness, the patient must take appropriate medications while in a medical facility. Some antibiotics must be administered intravenously.

Sometimes doctors use corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. As for patients who exhibit such a sign of the disease as convulsions, they are prescribed tranquilizers.

As for the viral type of the disease, we can say that taking antibiotics to patients will not bring a positive result.

In this case, doctors will not prescribe antibiotics or potent medications to the patient. Why? The fact is that viral meningitis, in most cases, manifests itself in a moderate form.

The human body can cope with it on its own, without the help of antibiotics and other potent medications.

In case of a viral disease, therapy should be aimed at relieving associated symptoms.

A few important points about hospitalization:

• It must be remembered that the inflammatory process in the brain can be fatal. That is why therapeutic therapy should be carried out exclusively in a hospital.
• The importance of hospitalization is also explained by the fact that if the illness occurs due to a pathogenic infection entering the body, then it can only be removed with the help of medications, which can only be purchased in a hospital facility. Treatment of many infectious diseases must be carried out under the supervision of doctors, since there are simply no drugs in pharmacies that can help stop this disease.
• In an inpatient setting, the patient will be free from external stimuli such as bright light and loud sound. Contact with them will worsen the headache.

The patient may feel worse, have worse headaches, and even experience hallucinations. And in stationary conditions, the risk of these consequences is significantly reduced.

Based on the above, it should be emphasized once again: the patient is not recommended to refuse hospitalization, as this can negatively affect not only his health, but also his life.

Brain diseases are always fatal. This should be remembered by every stubborn patient who has been diagnosed with this disease.

To recover, you need to listen to the recommendations of doctors every day.

How long does it take to treat meningitis?

How long does it take to treat meningitis? How long does treatment take?

Meningitis - how long to treat

Meningitis can be viral or bacterial, and it is treated differently in both cases. In addition, the duration of treatment may depend not only on the disease and the type of treatment chosen by the doctor, but also on other factors: the general condition of the patient, the advanced state of the disease, the body’s sensitivity to drugs, immunity and much more. Thus, even the doctor prescribing the treatment cannot say with certainty how long treatment for meningitis can last. And if you ask him this question, he will say: “until you recover” or will deceive you, suggesting the exact duration of treatment.

In fact, it is very difficult to say exactly how many days meningitis is treated, it all depends on the type of pathogen and on when treatment began. That is, you first need to establish a diagnosis of meningitis, and then answer the question of what kind of meningitis it is - viral or bacterial (purulent). After which a treatment option is selected.

Various antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial meningitis, but with viral meningitis the situation is different - there are almost no antiviral drugs, with the exception of acyclovir. There is only one good thing - viral meningitis has a favorable course compared to bacterial meningitis.

The most important thing is to start treatment of meningitis in a timely manner during the first days, which in turn should lead to a significant improvement in the condition, and then to a complete cure without any consequences.

Yes, the duration of treatment depends on the causative agent of the disease. In order to identify the pathogen, a lumbar puncture is performed. For a bacterial infection, a course of antibiotics is required; for headaches, painkillers are indicated. For viral etiology, antiviral drugs are prescribed. The duration of treatment depends on the patient’s immunity, on the form of the disease, on the correctly prescribed treatment and on how quickly the person went to a medical institution after the first signs of the disease appeared. Treatment is completed only when tests are normalized and after a control sample of cerebrospinal fluid.

The fact is that meningitis comes from different origins, so it is quite difficult to say exactly how many days to treat meningitis. It can be caused by viruses or bacteria, respectively, and the treatment mechanism will be different; antibiotics are taken for bacteria, but they have no effect on viruses; there are antiviral drugs to fight viruses. If treatment is started promptly, it will most likely pass without complications. The course of treatment for meningitis with antibiotics is usually 10 days.

It all depends on what stage of the disease you have. They will not tell you a definite answer about how long you will be treated. Everything will depend on the form of the disease. The more severe the meningitis, the longer it will take you. On average, treatment for meningitis takes 4 to 5 weeks. If you have a severe form, this will be about 8 weeks.

It always varies, depending on the type of meningitis, the pathogen, the cause, the antibiotics used, it can go away in 2-3 weeks, or it may not be treatable at all and end fatally.

Duration of treatment for meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain of a bacterial or viral nature. This disease is quite dangerous due to the localization of the inflammatory process - the spread of the process to the brain tissue entails many serious consequences.

Treatment of meningitis is carried out in a hospital setting

A little about the disease

It is impossible to establish the exact duration of treatment for meningitis - it consists of many individual characteristics of the body and the clinical course of the disease. The form of the disease, depending on the etiological factor and the severity of the patient’s condition, are of decisive importance.

Meningitis can be caused by a large number of microorganisms and viruses, among which are often:

In addition, meningitis is divided into primary, which arose independently, without previous infections, and secondary, which is a consequence of some infectious process in another part of the body. The pathogen can penetrate into the brain in several ways - hematogenous (through the circulatory system), lymphogenous (through the lymphatic vessels) and contact (in the presence of a purulent-inflammatory focus in communicating areas).

The disease is accompanied by multiple pathological changes:

• The production of cerebrospinal fluid increases.
• The permeability of the blood-brain barrier increases.
• The blood supply to the brain is disrupted, especially the microvasculature.
• Toxins negatively affect brain tissue.
• The outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is obstructed, which leads to hydrocephalus (dropsy of the brain).
• Signs of hypoxia are increasing.
• Brain swelling occurs.
• The process gradually spreads to the substance and ventricles of the brain.

The symptoms of meningitis vary depending on the etiological factor, but we can identify the main ones that are common to all forms of the disease. In most cases, the disease begins with an intense headache, spreading over the entire surface of the head and growing to unbearable. After some time, nausea appears and vomiting is possible. Patients take a characteristic position on their side, with their head thrown back and legs tucked to their stomach. Meningococcal infection is accompanied by a characteristic rash on the body, pneumococcal infection is accompanied by rhinitis, and enterovirus additionally causes digestive disorders.

Factors influencing the duration of treatment

If you suspect meningitis, you should call an ambulance

There is no clear answer to the question of how long it will take to treat the disease.

The duration of drug therapy depends on many factors that are taken into account when drawing up an individual treatment plan.

• The form of the disease - bacterial meningitis is more severe than viral meningitis.
• General condition of the body and age of the patient - preschool children and older people get sick longer, the clinical picture is more severe; Concomitant chronic diseases can complicate treatment and prolong hospitalization.
• Time to start treatment - timely diagnosis and the start of treatment measures help to bring recovery closer; If the disease is detected late, the prognosis is less favorable and treatment will take longer.
• Individual sensitivity of the body to incoming medications.

Duration of treatment depending on the form of the disease

The length of treatment in a hospital depends on the form of meningitis - the more severe the clinical picture, the more time it takes for complete recovery.

Meningococcal meningitis

This is what meningococcus looks like

This form of meningitis is often accompanied by cerebral edema, hyperemia and the appearance of infiltrates on the surface of the brain matter. In case of timely (within the first day from the onset of clinical manifestations) detection of the disease, it is possible to prevent further spread of the process and reduce the treatment time. Advanced meningococcal meningitis or irrational drug therapy can lead to severe pathological processes, as a result of which treatment measures are delayed and do not always give the desired result. On average, treatment for this form of the disease lasts from two to five to six weeks, with a prolonged course – up to 8 weeks.

Purulent and tuberculous meningitis

Purulent inflammation of the meninges is severe - pus fills the subarachnoid space, meningeal symptoms are pronounced, the patient's condition is serious. On average, the clinical course of this form of the disease lasts about 4-5 weeks; the prognosis is favorable if adequate treatment is started in a timely manner.

Symptoms of tuberculous meningitis increase slowly over several weeks. Treatment is also quite long - specific medications are taken for months.

For tuberculous meningitis, the patient is prescribed anti-tuberculosis drugs

Average length of disability after meningitis

The duration of disability depends on the form of the disease: after mild serous meningitis, the duration of disability is at least two to three weeks. More severe forms of the disease are accompanied by loss of working capacity for five to six months or more. It is possible to return to work only after complete elimination of all symptoms, and the patient is provided with special working conditions with a reduced workload ahead of schedule. For six months after discharge, the worker is exempt from night shifts and overtime assignments. If symptoms persist, sick leave is extended for one to two months. If 4-6 months after discharge from the hospital the symptoms do not disappear, the patient is sent for a medical and social examination to be assigned a disability group.

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Meningitis: symptoms, signs, causes and treatment

What is meningitis

You can get meningitis at any age. Rather, the incidence does not depend on age, but on the condition of the body. For example, premature babies (since they are weakened) are most at risk of meningitis. Also, the group of people who are more susceptible to the disease include people with various defects of the central nervous system, with head or back injuries.

Meningitis is a dangerous disease that, even with adequate and correct treatment, can cause consequences. Such consequences include headaches, dizziness, decreased visual acuity or hearing (even blindness and deafness), epileptic seizures, etc. Such consequences can last for several years, or even last a lifetime.

Meningitis in children under one year of age can cause the following consequences: impaired motor function (paralysis, paresis), mental retardation, decreased visual acuity or hearing, epilepsy, difficulties while studying, behavioral disorders, etc. These complications do not develop in all children, who have had meningitis, but according to statistics, such problems are observed in 25-50% of children.

Causes of meningitis

The causes of meningitis are viruses, bacteria and fungi. Meningitis affects people of all ages. Thus, the incidence is not due to age, but to the condition of the body. In particular, premature babies are most at risk from meningitis. Similarly, the group of people most susceptible to the disease includes people with various defects of the central nervous system, with injuries to the head or back. There are other factors that influence the incidence of meningitis.

Signs of meningitis

Meningitis in most cases has an acute and sudden onset. The initial symptoms of meningitis are very similar to those of a severe cold or flu:

• feeling of weakness;
• fever (temperature rises to 39 degrees or more);
• pain in joints and muscles;
• decreased appetite.

Symptoms of meningitis

Over a period of a couple of hours to several days, characteristic (specific) symptoms of meningitis appear against the background of high temperature. These include:

Detailed descriptions of symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis in children under one year old

In children under one year of age, in addition to the symptoms already listed, there are also signs of meningitis such as:

• diarrhea (diarrhea);
• apathy;
• drowsiness;
• constant strong crying;
• refusal to eat;
• anxiety;
• convulsions;
• swelling and pulsation in the area of ​​the large fontanel;
• vomiting and repeated regurgitation.

Diagnosis of meningitis

A great difficulty is diagnosing meningitis in patients who have received antibiotic therapy in quantities insufficient for recovery. The temperature drops to 37.5 - 38.5 C, meningeal symptoms regress, the headache weakens, but meanwhile remains persistent, nausea often remains, and rarely vomiting.

After a few days, due to the spread of the process to the ventricles and brain matter, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorates. General cerebral and focal neurological symptoms occur.

Mortality and the incidence of residual effects sharply increase in this group of patients. Viral meningitis begins to develop with symptoms characteristic of the corresponding infection, while meningitis develops later. In these cases, a two-wave course of the disease is observed. But meningitis from the first day can be the main manifestation of the disease.

The fever is moderate, meningeal symptoms are detected on the second-third or fifth-seventh day from the onset of the disease, sometimes later. Despite the severe headache and poor condition of the patients, meningeal symptoms are manifested moderately, often not in full, and disturbance of consciousness is not typical.

Treatment of meningitis

Patients with meningitis are subject to immediate hospitalization. Do not try to treat meningitis with folk remedies and do not delay calling an ambulance at all, since jokes with the infection can easily result in disability or death. Antibiotics are the drugs of choice for treating meningitis.

Let us note that in approximately 20% of cases the cause of the disease cannot be identified, so hospitals use broad-spectrum antibiotics in order to affect all possible pathogens.

The course of antibiotic therapy lasts at least 10 days. This period increases in the presence of purulent foci in the skull area. Currently, meningitis in adults and children is treated with penicillin, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. If they do not give the expected effect, then patients are prescribed vancomycin and carbapenems.

They have serious side effects and are used only in cases where there is a real risk of life-threatening complications. If severe meningitis is observed, the patient is prescribed endolumbar administration of antibiotics, in which the drugs enter directly into the spinal canal.

Instructions for the use of drugs for meningitis

Prevention of meningitis

To prevent meningitis, in some cases a vaccination is given. The vaccination is valid for 4 years. But there are no vaccinations against all types of meningitis. In addition, it is difficult to predict which pathogen will cause an outbreak next time.

Vaccines have not yet been created against many pathogens that can cause meningitis. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out nonspecific prevention of diseases in general, increase nonspecific immunity (hardening, vitaminization, etc.) and notice the symptoms of the disease in time and call a doctor.

Classification of meningitis

Reactive or fulminant meningitis

Reactive meningitis is a form of acute bacterial meningitis. This form is also called lightning, as it develops very intensively. Purulent infections of the meninges and cerebral edema lead to coma or death. The disease is caused by the following bacteria: group B streptococci, meningococci, pneumococci. It also occurs as a complication of various pathologies:

Sometimes the first symptoms of reactive meningitis are:

• sore throat;
• increase in temperature;
• vomit;
• headache;
• hardening of the neck and neck muscles.

This form of meningitis for adults becomes fatal within a day after the disease, for children - faster.

In some cases, symptoms of nerve damage appear from the very beginning: paresis and paralysis, deafness. Even timely diagnosis and intensive therapy often cannot prevent serious complications of reactive meningitis: the concentration of sodium ions in the blood plasma decreases (hypoatremia), blood clotting is impaired, and septic shock occurs.

Reactive meningitis can be diagnosed using a lumbar puncture. Thus, it is distinguished from other diseases with similar symptoms. But the procedure takes a certain time, which patients often do not have. Timely treatment of this form of meningitis does not guarantee a favorable outcome: mortality is more than 10% of all cases.

Serous meningitis

Serous meningitis occurs with serous inflammation of the meninges. According to its etiology, it can be viral, bacterial (tuberculosis, syphilitic) and fungal. Acute serous meningitis occurs under the influence of a variety of viruses. Most often these are enteroviruses and mumps virus (70-80% of all diseases). Influenza, herpes and other viruses can also be pathogens. Viral serous meningitis is manifested by meningeal symptoms and fever; Other organs may also be affected. The central and peripheral nervous systems are also affected.

Tuberculous meningitis

Tuberculous meningitis is more common among children and adolescents than among adults. It is a secondary disease that occurs as a complication of tuberculosis. Tuberculous meningitis begins with weakness, headache, weight loss, sweating, extreme fatigue and vomiting. Then symptoms such as stiffness of the neck muscles, decreased vision, and squint appear.

Modern medicine can guarantee a favorable outcome of tuberculous meningitis in 90-95% of cases, but only in case of timely and long-term comprehensive treatment. If the diagnosis is made late, the disease can be fatal. Complications of tuberculous meningitis include epileptic seizures, hydrocephalus, endocrine disorders, etc.

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is an inflammatory process in the serous membranes of the brain or, in rare cases, the spinal cord, caused by a viral infection. Meningitis manifests itself in several forms (secondary purulent, serous, protozoal and meningococcal), but it is the viral form of the disease that has the most positive prognosis for the patient and proceeds relatively favorably. In most cases, isolated cases of the disease are recorded; epidemic outbreaks are extremely rare. Most often, children suffer from viral meningitis.

Viral meningitis can be either an independent disease or a complication after an infectious disease. Laboratory tests such as culture and serological tests can identify the exact causative agent of the disease in 30-70% of all cases. A study of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid proves that at least two-thirds of cases of viral meningitis are caused by enteroviruses.

Purulent meningitis

Purulent meningitis (inflammation of the soft meninges) is the most severe infectious disease in both children and adults. The disease can be caused by any bacterial agent, but in the vast majority of cases it is caused by meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

According to modern research, bacterial purulent meningitis in Russia is caused by meningococci in 54% of cases, Haemophilus influenzae type b in 39%, pneumococci in 5%, and all other bacterial agents in only 2% of cases. The disease is especially common in children aged 2 months to 5 years.

The development of purulent meningitis at this age is facilitated by prematurity, artificial feeding, perinatal pathology or any other disease that increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.

The disease occurs as a result of bacterial pathogens entering from places of primary localization (nasopharynx, lungs, abscesses on the skin, etc.) through the blood into the soft meninges, in which they multiply and form purulent foci of inflammation. Purulent exudate is usually located on the basal surface of the brain, at the site of the optic chiasm, as well as in the region of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.

In severe cases, the process from the soft meninges spreads to the substance of the brain with the appearance of meningoencephalitis. If treatment is started late, inflammation of the ventricles of the brain may develop, leading to blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid ducts (aqueduct of Sylvius, foramina of Mozhandie, Luschka) with purulent exudate, resulting in hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus).

Meningococcal meningitis

Meningococcal infection is an acute infectious disease characterized by significant clinical polymorphism and occurring in the form of nasopharyngitis, meningitis or meningococcal sepsis.

Meningococcal infection can be localized or generalized. Localized forms are meningococcal carriage, acute nasopharyngitis, isolated meningococcal pneumonia. Generalized forms include meningococcemia (acute and chronic), meningococcal meningitis, meningococcal meningoencephalitis, mixed form (meningococcemia + meningitis), meningococcal endocarditis, meningococcal arthritis (synovitis) or polyarthritis, meningococcal iridocyclitis.

Due to their occurrence, all types of meningitis can be divided into purulent and aseptic (non-purulent). There are acute and subacute purulent meningitis. The former are caused by bacteria (most often meningococcal infection), the latter develop over a long period of time as a result of tuberculosis and syphilis. Aseptic meningitis can also be divided into acute (caused by viruses) and subacute (as a consequence of various diseases).

Questions and answers on the topic “Meningitis”

Question: Hello, my 4 month old son was diagnosed with purulent meningitis today. He has been in intensive care for 3 days. He was a healthy boy and developed well. Tell me what the consequences may be after treatment? and how long will the treatment take?

Question: I am 23 years old and suffered from serous meningitis 5 months ago. I still have a headache, I can’t drive a car, clouded consciousness, weak reactions, I can’t live as before, everything is not the same, everything is different. When will this end?

Question: Hello, my husband’s sister suspected meningitis and was admitted to the hospital for examination. My daughter had close contact with the patient for 10 months, what should we do now? I’m very worried?! Tell me, are all types of meningitis contagious?

Question: How long can a fever last for pneumococcal meningitis?

Question: Hello! My brother was diagnosed with infectious meningitis and was admitted to the hospital. At first the doctor said that he would stay in the hospital for a month, but now only 2 weeks have passed and he is already being discharged! This is fine? And with such meningitis, what treatment is carried out - antibiotics? Please answer.

Question: The child spent 2 weeks in the hospital with a diagnosis of mild serous meningitis. Now he is at home, but no one advises what is possible, what is not, what measures and for how long should be carried out so that there are no consequences of the disease.

Question: Hello! Please tell me how to restore hearing after meningitis. My brother recovered from meningitis after going on vacation to India. Lost my hearing. Doctors say it’s useless, but maybe something can be done?

Meningitis in adults is a severe inflammatory process that affects the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. The danger of the disease lies in the long latent incubation period and the rapid development of acute pathological symptoms. If meningitis is suspected, emergency medical care is important, otherwise the course of the disease can lead to delayed irreversible consequences, disability or death.

The pathology can rarely be recognized during the incubation period of meningitis, which lasts up to 7 days. During the week, the patient may experience symptoms of mild malaise:

If left untreated during this period, the symptoms begin to gain intensity and are complemented by more severe symptoms:

• pain in the head increases and becomes worse;
• the muscles of the back of the head tense, which forces the patient to take a pose with the head thrown back and the legs pressed at the knees to the stomach;
• the temperature rises to 39-40°C, accompanied by chills and fever;
• severe nausea and repeated vomiting appears, independent of food intake;
• consciousness is disturbed, the patient does not respond to appeals to him;
• mental disorders appear - hallucinations, attacks of aggression;
• the limbs experience cramps, and in rare cases, involuntary urination may occur at such moments;
• Severe strabismus is observed in cases where the inflammatory process affects the optic nerve.

The described symptoms develop at different rates depending on the type of disease. At the first suspicion of meningitis, you must go to the hospital and begin immediate treatment.

Causes of the disease

The main cause of meningitis in adults is infection in the membranes of the brain, the causative agents of which can be:

1. Viruses – herpetic, mumps.
2. Bacteria - staphylococci, meningococci, streptococci, Escherichia coli and tuberculosis.
3. Fungal infections - mycoses, candida.

The factors under which pathogens are activated are:

• immunity weakened by chronic diseases or long-term use of chemicals;
• chronic fatigue;
• poor diet;
• metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• presence of HIV infection;
• insect bites (such as ticks or mosquitoes);

Also, meningitis in adults can manifest itself as a complication after suffering from pneumonia, purulent otitis media or head injury.

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Types of meningitis in adults

The disease is classified according to many criteria - origin, rate of development, nature and cause of inflammation.

According to their origin, meningitis is divided into:

1. Primary – are a consequence of the pathological effect of the infectious agent on the membranes of the brain.
2. Secondary – develops as a complication after infectious diseases.

According to the speed of development, the disease is distinguished:

1. Reactive meningitis - develops rapidly under the influence of pneumococci, type B streptococci, meningococci, and also as a complication after otitis, sinusitis, pneumonia and other pathologies. The death of an adult patient occurs within 24 hours.
2. Acute meningitis is caused by a purulent infection and is characterized by a rapid increase in temperature. If assistance is not provided within a maximum of 3 days after the onset of acute symptoms, the patient may die.
3. Subacute meningitis - inflammation is sluggish and appears gradually over 3-4 weeks.
4. Chronic meningitis can occur in a latent benign form lasting from a month to 25 years, after which it suddenly disappears.

According to the nature of inflammation, meningitis occurs:

1. Purulent meningitis is a severe form of the disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The accumulation of pus in the membranes of the brain provokes a sharp deterioration in health and the rapid spread of infection throughout the body. A subtype of purulent infection is:

• Meningococcal meningitis - infection affects the tissues of the basal and convex part of the brain. Due to purulent contents, edema develops in the membranes of the brain, which, if assistance is not provided, causes impairment of vital functions and can lead to death.

1. Serous meningitis is a non-purulent inflammation of the tissues of the spinal cord and brain, in which an increased content of lymphocytes is observed in the cerebrospinal fluid. Subtypes of the disease include:

• Tuberculous meningitis - occurs when the tuberculosis bacillus is activated. In most cases, the disease occurs in subacute or chronic form. It is impossible to become infected with this type of infection.
• Viral meningitis - develops under the influence of herpes viruses or mumps. The course of the disease is acute with severe intoxication of the body; the peak of development in most cases occurs in the summer and early autumn.

Due to the development of the disease, it happens:

1. Bacterial meningitis - occurs due to exposure to staphylococci, E. coli, meningococci and other pathogenic bacteria.
2. Fungal meningitis - pathogenic fungi (candida, mycoses) are the causative agents.
3. Mixed meningitis - the cause of the disease is the activation of several types of bacteria and viruses simultaneously.

There are three ways of contracting meningitis depending on the type of disease:

1. Airborne - the infection is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person by sneezing, coughing and even talking. Cases of infection can be either isolated or widespread, epidemic in nature. Viral and meningococcal meningitis are transmitted in this way.
2. Fecal-oral – the causative agent of the disease enters the body of a healthy person through unwashed hands or food, household items. The nature of infection and types of infection are similar to the previous method.
3. Hematogenous - the infection enters the blood during a transfusion, through the placenta from a pregnant woman to the fetus, or through an insect bite. This method is typical for secondary meningitis; infection with it occurs much less frequently than with the two previous methods.

The most dangerous carriers of the infection are patients whose meningitis occurs in the incubation period or the initial stage of the disease. In such cases, the risk of contracting meningitis increases 5-6 times.

When diagnosing meningitis in adults, it is important to distinguish the disease from other pathological conditions and disorders by its characteristic signs and symptoms. During the initial examination, the doctor interviews the patient, asking him for the following information:

• time of onset of symptoms characteristic of meningitis;
• the presence or absence of tick bites and other insects recently;
• whether the patient has visited countries with a tropical climate in the next month, where the likelihood of being bitten by infectious insects is extremely high.

After this, the doctor assesses the patient’s neurological condition, conducting tactile and auditory reaction tests, and prescribes the following types of examination:

• blood test for the presence of an inflammatory process in the body;
• magnetic resonance or computer tomography for layer-by-layer examination of the membranes of the brain;
• lumbar puncture to examine the cerebrospinal fluid and detect an increased amount of protein or lymphocytes in it.

After receiving all the results of the study, the doctor prescribes treatment, which must be started immediately.

Treatment of meningitis should be carried out in a hospital under the constant supervision of doctors. Depending on the type of infection, the patient is prescribed the following types of drugs:

1. Broad-spectrum antibiotics - prescribed in the form of intramuscular, as well as intravenous and lumbar injections:

• Penicillin drugs (Amoxicillin, Ampicillin) are indicated for infections caused by staphylococci, meningococci, pneumococci.
• Cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Cefatoxime) are prescribed for infections when penicillin antibiotics do not have the desired effect.
• Glycopeptides (Vancomycin) and Carbapenems (Bapenem) are prescribed for severe meningitis and the ineffectiveness of the above antibiotics.

1. Antifungal drugs (Fluconazole, Amphotericin) are indicated for the treatment of meningitis caused by candida and mycoses.
2. Antiviral drugs (Acyclovir) and immune-modulating drugs - for the treatment of meningitis caused by active viruses.
3. Diuretics (Diacarb, Uregid) - are indicated to relieve swelling of brain tissue and reduce.
4. Infusion solutions (Colloids, Crystalloids) are prescribed to remove toxins that are products of the decomposition of bacteria and viruses.
5. Antipyretics and painkillers (Paracetamol, Aspirin, Nurofen) - to relieve symptoms such as headaches and high fever.

Timely treatment of meningitis in adults can alleviate the patient's condition within a few days, but a number of symptoms continue to appear over the next 2-3 months. For their complete disappearance, it is necessary to regularly visit the outpatient clinic and undergo dispensary treatment.

Self-medication with folk and improvised means is fraught with loss of time and the risk of developing complications of the disease in the future.

Consequences of meningitis in adults

Regardless of the type and degree of neglect, meningitis in adults almost always entails serious complications and consequences, since the infection affects the brain. Complications can appear both immediately during the course of the disease and in a delayed period. In the first case, the patient may develop:

• Cerebral edema - there is a disorder of consciousness, sharp fluctuations in blood pressure, tachycardia and shortness of breath with symptoms typical of pulmonary edema.
• Infectious-toxic shock - occurs against the background of poisoning of the body with decay products of bacteria that provoke the development of meningitis.

In both cases, if emergency care is not provided by resuscitators, the patient may fall into a coma and die 2-3 hours after the onset of the active phase of complications.

The delayed consequences of meningitis in adults, suffered in a mild form, may appear in the form of symptoms in the next six months:

• monotonous and frequent headaches;
• decreased memory and mental functions;
• convulsions that occur spontaneously without specific causes.

The consequences of severe meningitis are more serious. Throughout the rest of his life, a person may experience the following pathological conditions caused by a disorder of cerebral activity:

Timely contact with doctors at the first signs of meningitis minimizes the likelihood of developing the described consequences.

Prevention. Vaccination against meningitis

The main preventive measure to prevent the development of meningitis is regular vaccination with a vaccine against meningococcal infection, as well as against viruses that can cause the disease - measles, chickenpox, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcal bacilli. Most of the vaccinations described are given in childhood. Vaccination against meningococcal infection is recommended every 3 years, starting from one and a half years, in cases of increased risk of developing meningitis.

In addition to vaccinations, people with weak immune systems must take a number of the following measures to prevent infection with meningitis:

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The described measures will help, if not eliminate, then significantly reduce the risk of meningitis and the development of serious consequences.

Meningitis is an inflammatory process in the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. The disease is very dangerous and if meningitis is suspected, the patient should be hospitalized as soon as possible, since it can only be treated in a hospital, regardless of the patient’s age.

Meningitis is believed to be more common in children. The failure or high permeability of the blood-brain barrier in children determines not so much the incidence of morbidity in children, but the severity of the disease and the frequency of deaths (substances that should not penetrate there penetrate into the brain, causing seizures and other cortical or pyramidal disorders).

Meningitis is dangerous because even with timely, correct treatment, it can cause serious complications and long-term consequences, such as periodic headaches, decreased hearing, vision, dizziness, and epileptic seizures, which can last for several years or last a lifetime.

Regardless of the causes of occurrence, the causative agent of the infection, the localization of the process, the clinical manifestations of the disease have several common first signs of meningitis.

The first symptoms of meningitis

Meningitis is such a serious, dangerous disease, the complications of which can lead to disability and even death, so every person should know how to identify meningitis, what its characteristic symptoms are, how meningitis manifests itself, in order to seek medical help as early as possible and begin adequate treatment on time .

General infectious symptoms

One of the symptoms of meningitis: if you lay the patient on his back and tilt his head to his chest, his legs will involuntarily bend.

This is primarily intoxication:

• high body temperature
• pale skin
• pain in muscles and joints
• shortness of breath, rapid pulse, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle
• in severe cases there may be low blood pressure
• loss of appetite, complete refusal to eat
• patients feel thirsty and therefore drink a lot; refusal to drink is regarded as an unfavorable sign.

Meningeal syndrome

These are the first cerebral symptoms of meningitis, such as:

Headache

occurs due to the toxic effect of infection on the meninges, due to increased intracranial pressure, it is observed in all patients with any meningitis. The headache is bursting, very intense, intensifies during movement, sharp sounds and light stimulation, is not localized in individual parts, but is felt throughout the head. Moreover, taking analgesics has no effect and does not relieve pain.

Dizziness, photophobia, sound sensitivity, vomiting

They appear on the 2-3rd day of illness. Vomiting may occur at the peak of the headache; it does not bring relief. Usually this vomiting is a fountain and is not associated with food intake. Increased visual, tactile and sound sensitivity develops due to irritation of the cells of the brain ganglia, dorsal roots and receptors of the meninges; this significantly reduces the threshold of sensitivity to any irritants. Even a slight touch of the patient can cause increased pain in the patient.

Features of symptoms in infants

Infants are very excited, restless, often cry out, become very excited when touched, they also often have diarrhea, drowsiness, and repeated regurgitation. In young children, one of the first signs of meningitis is often convulsions, often repeated. Adult patients usually cover their heads with a blanket and lie facing the wall. If at the onset of the disease in adults and adolescents it is accompanied by convulsive twitching, this is an unfavorable sign.

From the first days of the disease, the first symptoms of meningitis are observed:

• • stiff neck– difficult or impossible bending of the head. This is the earliest sign of meningitis and is permanent.
  • Kernig's symptoms– a condition when the legs, bent at the knees and hip joints, cannot straighten.
  • Brudzinski's symptoms– the upper symptom is characterized by involuntary bending of the legs when the head is tilted to the chest. If you lay the patient on his back and tilt his head to his chest, the legs at the knee and hip joints will involuntarily bend. The average symptom is involuntary bending of the patient’s legs if pressure is applied to the area of ​​the symphysis pubis. The bottom symptom is when the Kernig sign is checked, the other leg bends involuntarily.

• Lesage's symptoms– in young children, some characteristic meningeal symptoms are not clearly expressed, so the large fontanel is examined. It bulges, throbs and is tense. They also check for the posture of a pointing dog - when the child is held under the armpits, he throws his head back, pulls his legs towards his stomach - this is Lesage's symptom.
• The man takes a forced kicking dog (trigger) pose. This is when the patient covers his face with a blanket and turns to the wall, brings his bent legs to his stomach in a position on his side and throws back his head, as this relieves the tension of the membranes and reduces headaches.
• Patients with meningitis may also have the following characteristic pain:
  • Bekhterev's symptom - contraction of facial muscles when tapping on the zygomatic arch
  • Pulatov's symptom - pain when tapping the skull
  • Mendel's sign - pain when pressing on the area of ​​the external auditory canal
  • Pain when pressing on the exit points of the cranial nerves ( for example, trigeminal, under the eye, in the middle of the eyebrow).
• In addition, damage to the cranial nerves can clinically manifest itself as the following symptoms:
  • decreased vision
  • double vision
  • nystagmus
  • ptosis
  • squint
  • paresis of facial muscles
  • hearing loss
  • in most cases, patients experience changes and confusion.

• In the first days of the disease, the patient generally experiences the following first signs of meningitis:
  • excitement, which may increase in the future
  • accompanied by hallucinations, motor restlessness
  • or, on the contrary, be replaced by stupor, lethargy
  • up to entering a comatose state.

From the first to second day, against the background of a rise in temperature and headache, a pink or red rash appears that disappears with pressure. Within a few hours it becomes hemorrhagic, that is, a rash in the form of bruises (cherry pits) with a darker middle of varying sizes. It starts from the feet, legs, creeping onto the hips and buttocks and spreading higher and higher (up to the face).

This is a dangerous signal, and an ambulance must be called immediately, otherwise the matter could quickly end in death. The rash is the necrosis of soft tissues against the background of incipient sepsis caused by meningococcus. Septicemia can occur without pronounced cerebral symptoms. A rash combined with fever is enough to urgently call an ambulance.