The signs and symptoms of meningitis can be indicative of a variety of many viral or bacterial illnesses. The spinal variety of this infection is caused by bacteria and is spread by close contact with another harboring this potentially serious illness, while the aseptic illness is caused by a contagious, but generally, milder viral infection.
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.
The course of most viral cases of this illness are usually self-limited by full function of a normal immune system. The difficulty of distinguishing viral from bacterial, however, requires medical assessment. When the cause is with a commonly acquired fungus, prescription anti-fungal therapy is necessary for curative management.
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.
Bacterial meningitis, left untreated, carries the potential for consequences that range in severity from hearing loss to permanent neurological damage to death. This form of the illness is more prevalent in babies under 2 years old and adults beyond 50 years of age. A recent respiratory illness with symptomatic infections of the sinuses, ears, throat or lungs paves the path for infection spreading directly to the meninges. Any concussive, cranial injury provides an opening for entry of meningeal bacteria.
Similar to the onset of flu, meningeal symptoms are felt suddenly. Edema in the meninges culminates in swelling, causing the characteristically relentless headache, accompanied with light sensitivity, a rising temperature equal to the severity of the infection, shaking chills followed by perspiring, exhaustion, irritability and confusion, nausea, vomiting and the telltale stiff neck.
Patients will often exhibit photo-phobia, with unequal, sluggish pupils. Classic signs of central nervous system involvement, including irritability, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and drowsiness may be present. In addition to these shared symptomatic indications, bacteria meningitis may be precluded with a sore throat and respiratory symptoms. Patients with the bacterial form of this illness may display a characteristic red or purple skin rash.
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.
As the criteria for definitive diagnosis is complex in an illness that can run the gamut from relatively minor to critical, urgent medical evaluation and treatment is necessary. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis offers a guidepost for recognizing the picture of an illness that indicates urgency. Only a physician can accurately ascertain the cause, severity and treatment plan for a complete 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.
The course of most viral cases of this illness are usually self-limited by full function of a normal immune system. The difficulty of distinguishing viral from bacterial, however, requires medical assessment. When the cause is with a commonly acquired fungus, prescription anti-fungal therapy is necessary for curative management.
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.
Bacterial meningitis, left untreated, carries the potential for consequences that range in severity from hearing loss to permanent neurological damage to death. This form of the illness is more prevalent in babies under 2 years old and adults beyond 50 years of age. A recent respiratory illness with symptomatic infections of the sinuses, ears, throat or lungs paves the path for infection spreading directly to the meninges. Any concussive, cranial injury provides an opening for entry of meningeal bacteria.
Similar to the onset of flu, meningeal symptoms are felt suddenly. Edema in the meninges culminates in swelling, causing the characteristically relentless headache, accompanied with light sensitivity, a rising temperature equal to the severity of the infection, shaking chills followed by perspiring, exhaustion, irritability and confusion, nausea, vomiting and the telltale stiff neck.
Patients will often exhibit photo-phobia, with unequal, sluggish pupils. Classic signs of central nervous system involvement, including irritability, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and drowsiness may be present. In addition to these shared symptomatic indications, bacteria meningitis may be precluded with a sore throat and respiratory symptoms. Patients with the bacterial form of this illness may display a characteristic red or purple skin rash.
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.
As the criteria for definitive diagnosis is complex in an illness that can run the gamut from relatively minor to critical, urgent medical evaluation and treatment is necessary. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis offers a guidepost for recognizing the picture of an illness that indicates urgency. Only a physician can accurately ascertain the cause, severity and treatment plan for a complete recovery.
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