By Grace Rivera
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At the outset of most infectious, contagious illnesses, often the initial indications reveal a confusing, complex diagnostic picture. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of meningitis offers a criteria for knowing when to seek professional medical help. When the signs point toward the possibility of this central nervous system infection, whether it is the milder viral form or a potentially lethal bacterial illness, better safe than sorry is advisable.
Viral meningitis is an equal opportunistic infection, affecting men, women and children of all ages. The risk for acquiring illness following exposure increases when the immune system is compromised due to autoimmune dysfunction, depleted immunity or the use of immunosuppressant drug therapies. Misinformation and fear regarding vaccines has resulted in more children contracting measles, mumps or rubella, increasing risk for developing meningeal infections. Common fungal infections can result in developing this illness. Communal living increases risk for cluster epidemics.
Most viral cases recover fully without intervention or any need for antibiotics, as viral illness are managed by the body's immune response. The illness, however, requires the attention of a physician to culture for cause. If the illness is introduced through acquisition of a fungus, the appropriate prescribed course of anti-fungal medication is necessary for cure.
Risks that increase the likelihood of acquiring this viral infection are a recent bout with measles, rubella or seasonal flu, as well as exposure during an outbreak of meningitis. Immunosuppressive drugs prescribed for transplant recipients and cancer patients lower resistance to viral infections and increase the risk for this illness.
Meningococcal illness carries the urgency of life-threatening consequences if correct diagnosis and treatment are delayed. This renders a grave health crisis in the very young or adults over 50 years old, often with weaker immune systems than the rest of the population. A concurrent upper respiratory infection can spread to the meninges. Any recent head injury provides a portal for introducing bacterial infection.
Meningeal infection shares many classically symptomatic hallmarks of influenza. Onset of symptoms, following exposure, is usually rapid. Common indications include variable fever with chills and sweating, severe headache, listlessness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea with vomiting and stiff neck. Signs of CNS involvement are extreme sensitivity to light along with nonreactive pupils of different size, irritability, confusion, sleepiness progressing to altered consciousness.
Bacterial infiltration can sometimes be distinguished from viral with additional signals that herald the seriousness of this infection. Often, the patient will have recently recovered from a sore throat with indications of a respiratory infection prior to the onset of symptoms suggestive of meningitis. The appearance of a red to purplish skin rash points toward a definitive diagnosis for bacterial meningitis.
Newborns will symptomatically develop a high fever with constant crying and abnormal irritability with meningeal inflammation. Changes in activity levels are seen with excessive sleepiness or sluggishness and poor feeding. The fontanel on the top of a infant's head may bulge with body and neck musculature becoming stiff.
Since the signs and symptoms of meningitis are similar in both forms of the illness, it is imperative that the patient seek medical help without delay. Determination of the specific cause for the infection will ensure that the patient is properly treated for an uncomplicated, full recovery.
Viral meningitis is an equal opportunistic infection, affecting men, women and children of all ages. The risk for acquiring illness following exposure increases when the immune system is compromised due to autoimmune dysfunction, depleted immunity or the use of immunosuppressant drug therapies. Misinformation and fear regarding vaccines has resulted in more children contracting measles, mumps or rubella, increasing risk for developing meningeal infections. Common fungal infections can result in developing this illness. Communal living increases risk for cluster epidemics.
Most viral cases recover fully without intervention or any need for antibiotics, as viral illness are managed by the body's immune response. The illness, however, requires the attention of a physician to culture for cause. If the illness is introduced through acquisition of a fungus, the appropriate prescribed course of anti-fungal medication is necessary for cure.
Risks that increase the likelihood of acquiring this viral infection are a recent bout with measles, rubella or seasonal flu, as well as exposure during an outbreak of meningitis. Immunosuppressive drugs prescribed for transplant recipients and cancer patients lower resistance to viral infections and increase the risk for this illness.
Meningococcal illness carries the urgency of life-threatening consequences if correct diagnosis and treatment are delayed. This renders a grave health crisis in the very young or adults over 50 years old, often with weaker immune systems than the rest of the population. A concurrent upper respiratory infection can spread to the meninges. Any recent head injury provides a portal for introducing bacterial infection.
Meningeal infection shares many classically symptomatic hallmarks of influenza. Onset of symptoms, following exposure, is usually rapid. Common indications include variable fever with chills and sweating, severe headache, listlessness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea with vomiting and stiff neck. Signs of CNS involvement are extreme sensitivity to light along with nonreactive pupils of different size, irritability, confusion, sleepiness progressing to altered consciousness.
Bacterial infiltration can sometimes be distinguished from viral with additional signals that herald the seriousness of this infection. Often, the patient will have recently recovered from a sore throat with indications of a respiratory infection prior to the onset of symptoms suggestive of meningitis. The appearance of a red to purplish skin rash points toward a definitive diagnosis for bacterial meningitis.
Newborns will symptomatically develop a high fever with constant crying and abnormal irritability with meningeal inflammation. Changes in activity levels are seen with excessive sleepiness or sluggishness and poor feeding. The fontanel on the top of a infant's head may bulge with body and neck musculature becoming stiff.
Since the signs and symptoms of meningitis are similar in both forms of the illness, it is imperative that the patient seek medical help without delay. Determination of the specific cause for the infection will ensure that the patient is properly treated for an uncomplicated, full recovery.
About the Author:
Find out the signs and symptoms of Meningitis by visiting this informative website at www.meningitis-angels.org. Here is more information on http://www.meningitis-angels.org.
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