MENINGITIS-
A Silent Stalker.
A deceptive, rapidly progressing and sometimes fatal disease is jeopardizing
the lives of children and college students throughout America.
This silent stalker is often mistaken as the flu, but if left untreated meningitis
can turn deadly. Sharing the same common bacteria (streptococcus pneumonia) found
in ear infections, blood infections and pneumonia, meningitis is a serious disease
process.
But good news from a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control is that
childhood vaccinations for pneumococcal meningitis work. This CDC study also
proves that the racial gap of meningitis, which is more prevalent among black
children, has been significantly reduced due to immunization.
Let's learn a little more about the various forms of meningitis, the symptoms
of each and the treatment options available.
What is meningitis? Meningitis is an infection of
the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), which is the fluid that surrounds the brain
and the spinal cord. A virus most
commonly causes the infection. These cases are milder in form with less serious
consequences. Usually, no specific treatment is required.
The second most common source of infection is due to bacteria and there are several
bacteria that can cause this potentially serious infection. There are several
bacteria that may be responsible for this infection including Streptococcus pneumonia,
Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitides. The result of this infection
can lead to brain damage and learning disability if not treated with appropriate
antibiotics in a timely fashion.
What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms in
children and adults may include a headache, fever, and a stiff neck. There may
be an associated respiratory illness
prior to the development of meningitis. As the disease progresses in severity,
there may be confusion, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and a very ill
appearance. Lastly, a person with meningitis may become combative or experience
seizures. It is important to look at the big clinical picture, as many of the
symptoms can be present with numerous other medical conditions.
How is the diagnosis made? Your health care provider
must be suspicious of meningitis on the basis of the clinical presentation and
risk factors present. In addition,
exposure to other people with some forms of meningitis increases the chance of
developing meningitis. The presence of a respiratory illness, ear infection,
sinusitis, or pneumonia is major risks for the spread of the infection to the
CSF.
Once your health care provider is suspicious for meningitis, blood work and x-rays
may be completed. A CT scan of the head may be ordered to check for the presence
of an infectious process in the brain. Finally, a lumbar puncture or spinal tap
will be completed to look for the evidence of an infectious process, either viral
or bacterial, in the CSF.
A lumbar puncture is a very safe and fairly painless procedure that is done in
the laying or seated position. The lower back is cleansed and anesthetized. A
small needle is passed in between the vertebrae to obtain the fluid. The fluid
is then sent to the laboratory for microscopic analysis and culture. The culture
may take a couple of days to reveal the offending bacteria. Viral cultures are
usually not ordered, as they require time in determining the results, at which
time the patient has fully required.
What is the treatment? Viral meningitis requires only
supportive treatment and most patients will improve within a couple of days.
Several of these cases are
admitted to the hospital in order to be sure that the infection is viral in nature.
Bacterial meningitis is a very serious condition and prompt treatment with intravenous
antibiotics is necessary. Some cases require the use of steroids as well. Hospitalization
is mandatory and very close follow-up is required. Meningococcal meningitis,
which is a specific bacterium, requires that all contacts with the patient be
given a single dose of an oral antibiotic. This is the infection that has occurred
in some university dorm settings and has lead to the unfortunate deaths detailed
in national media headlines.
What else should I do? The recent article in the Journal
of the American Medical association has re-affirmed the importance of having
children immunized. This
simple preventative health care measure can prevent the development of many forms
of bacterial meningitis. Be sure that your children are up-to-date on their shots,
as you can decrease the possibility of your children developing a potentially
life-threatening infection that can also lead to a life of permanent disability.
For more information on meningitis and support services for victims of meningitis,
visit the Meningitis Foundation of America website at www.musa.org.
