Meningitis symptoms, treatment and prevention

Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord is called meningitis. There are several types of meningitis. Given the nature of the inflammation, they can be purulent, serous-fibrinous, serous, and hemorrhagic. With the flow - acute, subacute, chronic. By localization of the inflammatory process, meningitis is generalized and local, according to etiology - viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal. In the process of stimulation of the meninges, intracranial pressure intensifies , hypoesthesia, rigidity of the neck muscles, paresis and paralysis of the extremities, dilatation of the pupils, visual and hearing impairments, ataxia, and possibly strabismus appear.

Meningitis: symptoms, methods of its treatment

As a rule, the symptoms of meningitis are accompanied by general oppression, hyperthermia, headache, drowsiness and nausea. Often pains occur in the neck and waist, sometimes hemorrhages of different sizes appear on the skin. It should be noted that the symptoms of meningitis depend on the type of the disease. For example, viral meningitis symptoms is similar to the signs of an infectious disease that provoked it. This kind of meningitis is considered to be the most dangerous, the signs of the disease that appear in a few days are not very pronounced. As a rule, in patients with a diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, symptoms occur against the background of general weakness and fever. Within a few days, there is a headache, nausea and vomiting. In patients with a diagnosis of meningitis, symptoms usually appear on day 3-4.

Therapy is symptomatic and aims to eliminate the main signs of the disease, which are dangerous for human life and health. Diuretic drugs are used to reduce the amount of fluid in the cells and tissues of the body. The mechanism of their action is associated with increased urination, while they inhibit the inverse absorption of sodium ions in the tubules of the kidney, resulting in reduced reabsorption of water. With edema of the brain, dehydration drugs (mannitol, urogluc, and lasix) are effective. Uroglyuk is a lyophilized carbamide solution, which is prepared before use. Contraindications to the use of the drug are kidney diseases. The most effective anti-edema drug is Lasix, its effect is manifested in a few minutes. It has been proven that corticosteroid preparations (dexamethasone) possess anti-edematous action. Approximately 12 hours after their use, there is a decrease in intracranial pressure. To normalize the microcirculation blood use rheopolyglucin, mannitol, furosemide. In the presence of symptoms of toxic shock, hormonal drugs (hydrocortisone, prednisolone, cortin, etc.) in combination with ascorbic acid, cardiac drugs (cordiamine, strophanthin), adrenomimetics (ephedrine, mezaton) are used. As a special therapy, vaccines and serums are used. Children at an early age are vaccinated against meningitis at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months with a second vaccination at 12 months. Vaccination against pneumococcal infection also protects against the development of meningitis. For patients older than sixty-five years old, it is recommended to use a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Of particular popularity are complex vaccines against rubella, mumps and measles, their use protects the child from those meningitis that develop against the background of these diseases.

Prevention of meningitis

In addition to carrying out vaccinations, one should adhere to the rules of personal hygiene, avoid contact with the source of infection, as well as carriers of meningococcal infection. Some kinds of meningitis can be transmitted by airborne droplets during sneezing, coughing or during kissing. Personal hygiene items must be individual (towel, toothbrush).