Meningitis - treatment of the disease. Symptoms and prevention of disease meningitis

Meningitis - an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation can be caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi.

Meningitis - Causes

In most cases, meningitis is caused by bacteria 3 species: meningococcus, Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcus. These microorganisms can inhabit the upper respiratory tract of healthy humans and it does not cause any painful reactions of the organism. However, in some cases, the bacteria can penetrate into the brain, which leads to the development of meningitis.

In some cases, meningitis develops due to injury, as well as the weakening of the immune system after illness. Provoking factor is the excessive use of alcohol, removal of the spleen, pneumococcal infection, as well as some infectious-inflammatory diseases of the ear and nose.

In rare cases, the cause of meningitis is E. coli or Klebsiella. These microorganisms disease is usually caused by trauma or cerebral spinal, as well as blood poisoning.

Inflammation of the meninges may also be caused by viruses, parasites, tumors, fungi. Sometimes the inflammation is a complication during surgery.

Meningitis - Symptoms

Most often, meningitis develops acutely. For the disease is characterized by fever, muscle aches, generalized weakness. Upon infection, meningococcal formed rash; with pneumococcal meningitis - develops a runny nose and pneumonia; with enterovirus infections - gastrointestinal disorders; with mumps - disruption of the salivary glands.

One of the most striking symptoms of meningitis - a severe headache. Usually, pain increases very fast and causes the patient to scream or moan. Subsequently nausea, vomiting. When audio or visual stimuli pain worse.

About a day after the appearance of the first symptoms of the patient's condition worsens. There is confusion, drowsiness, irritability. Edema of brain tissue, which significantly complicates the bloodstream, that resembles the symptoms of stroke. Perhaps the development of coma and death.

Meningitis - Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves examination of the patient meningitis, as well as carrying out general analysis of blood and spinal puncture. Additional diagnostic methods may be bacteriological, immunological studies, chest X-ray, fundus examination, CT scan, electroencephalography.

Meningitis - Types of diseases

The following types of meningitis:

• aseptic meningitis;
• gram-negative meningitis;
• cryptococcal meningitis;
• meningococcal meningitis;
• staphylococcal meningitis;
• pneumococcal meningitis;
• tuberculous meningitis.

Depending on the localization of the inflammatory process, isolated meningitis - an inflammation of the arachnoid and soft meninges, and pachymeningitis - inflammation of dura.

Isolated bacterial etiology, viral, fungal meningitis. By the nature of the inflammatory process is acute meningitis, subacute and chronic. On the origin of meningitis it is the primary and secondary - arise against a disease.

Meningitis - Patient action

If you suspect meningitis (you or your friend) an urgent need to call the ambulance. If the expectation of long-term health care, it is necessary to go to the nearest hospital. In this case, the account goes on watch, because meningitis is developing rapidly and gives complications.

Meningitis - Treatment

meningitis treatment is carried out in a hospital environment. The mainstay of treatment of diseases of antibacterial therapy (in bacterial meningitis). Appointed by interferons, and broad-spectrum antibiotics, Since the analysis of the results of lumbar puncture will not immediately known. Antibacterial drugs are administered i.v., sometimes endolyumbalno.

To prevent cerebral edema diuretics appointed, the use of which should be taken into account with their ability to flush out calcium from the organism.

held detoxification therapy to reduce the symptoms of intoxication, e.g. a physiological solution, solution 5% glucose and other drugs.

Meningitis - Complications

Meningitis can cause serious complications, such as deafness, Hydrocephalus, epilepsy, mental retardation. The likelihood of complications increases with delay in treatment.

Meningitis - Prevention

Some forms of meningitis can be prevented by vaccination. Effect of the vaccine lasts 3 year, and its efficiency is 80%. The vaccine does not protect against meningitis to children 18 months.