Meningitis is an illness during which the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and the cerebrospinal fluid become highly inflamed. The condition is potentially fatal. Anyone suffering from such an infection should seek the advice of a doctor without delay to avoid life-threatening complications. There are many signs and symptoms of meningitis, some of which are very similar to the symptoms of other conditions and diseases.
Patients' survival rates vary depending on specific factors. For instance, infants have a higher risk of death than grown-ups in cases where the illness was caused by a virus. Other aspects that play a role in the disease's mortality rate in both youngsters and grown-ups such as the severity of the inflammation and the extent to which the individual's white blood cell count dips when he or she is fighting the infection: if a patient's white blood cell count rapidly decreases, it substantially raises his or her risk of death.
The illness is typically the result of a virus or bacterial infection. However, fungus or parasites can also cause meningitis. Additionally, a rare variation of the disorder exists, which is called noninfectious or aseptic meningitis. This variation of the disorder is associated with the same symptoms and inflammation as the aforementioned types, but an infection cannot be found in the patient's body.
The condition can result in permanent disabilities, such as behavioral problems, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, decreased intelligence and hearing loss. The risk for complications is higher in children than adults. However, patients of all ages can become disabled after such an illness.
The signs and symptoms of the condition vary depending on numerous factors. These include the patient's overall health, his or her age, and the presence of other medical conditions. A severe headache is the first symptom experienced by most adult patients. The latter may be initially misdiagnosed as a migraine or cluster headache.
In some cases, the individual will run a high fever and experience a certain amount of stiffness in his or her neck. Often, light intolerance is present, which is sometimes accompanied by an intolerance for noise. Decreased cognitive ability or mental fog may also be experienced.
Children's symptoms are sometimes not as obvious and may include pain in the lower extremities, irritability, intolerance to cold and excessive drowsiness. A baby who is suffering from the disease may have a swollen fontanelle. The latter is the term for the baby's soft spot, which is located at the back of the head. Youngsters may also break out in a rash on their legs and torso. The medical term for this rash is petechiae and it may also affect the whites of the eyes, palms, and mucous membranes.
Petechiae is seen more often in children than adults, but patients of all ages can experience such a rash. Rigid muscles are a symptom of the disorder as well, and can occur in both children and adults. Unnatural muscle flexing or tightening is usually considered a sign of advanced meningitis.
Treatments depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of the condition and whether it was the result of a viral or bacterial infection. Treatment may take several weeks or last only a few days. In certain instances one may recover at home, but sometimes hospitalization is required. Medical help should be sought by those experiencing the aforementioned signs and symptoms of meningitis.
Patients' survival rates vary depending on specific factors. For instance, infants have a higher risk of death than grown-ups in cases where the illness was caused by a virus. Other aspects that play a role in the disease's mortality rate in both youngsters and grown-ups such as the severity of the inflammation and the extent to which the individual's white blood cell count dips when he or she is fighting the infection: if a patient's white blood cell count rapidly decreases, it substantially raises his or her risk of death.
The illness is typically the result of a virus or bacterial infection. However, fungus or parasites can also cause meningitis. Additionally, a rare variation of the disorder exists, which is called noninfectious or aseptic meningitis. This variation of the disorder is associated with the same symptoms and inflammation as the aforementioned types, but an infection cannot be found in the patient's body.
The condition can result in permanent disabilities, such as behavioral problems, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, decreased intelligence and hearing loss. The risk for complications is higher in children than adults. However, patients of all ages can become disabled after such an illness.
The signs and symptoms of the condition vary depending on numerous factors. These include the patient's overall health, his or her age, and the presence of other medical conditions. A severe headache is the first symptom experienced by most adult patients. The latter may be initially misdiagnosed as a migraine or cluster headache.
In some cases, the individual will run a high fever and experience a certain amount of stiffness in his or her neck. Often, light intolerance is present, which is sometimes accompanied by an intolerance for noise. Decreased cognitive ability or mental fog may also be experienced.
Children's symptoms are sometimes not as obvious and may include pain in the lower extremities, irritability, intolerance to cold and excessive drowsiness. A baby who is suffering from the disease may have a swollen fontanelle. The latter is the term for the baby's soft spot, which is located at the back of the head. Youngsters may also break out in a rash on their legs and torso. The medical term for this rash is petechiae and it may also affect the whites of the eyes, palms, and mucous membranes.
Petechiae is seen more often in children than adults, but patients of all ages can experience such a rash. Rigid muscles are a symptom of the disorder as well, and can occur in both children and adults. Unnatural muscle flexing or tightening is usually considered a sign of advanced meningitis.
Treatments depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of the condition and whether it was the result of a viral or bacterial infection. Treatment may take several weeks or last only a few days. In certain instances one may recover at home, but sometimes hospitalization is required. Medical help should be sought by those experiencing the aforementioned signs and symptoms of meningitis.
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