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Meningitis is an infection of the meninges (the protective membrane) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. When inflamed, swollen meninges due to infection occurs. The nervous system and the brain can be damaged in some cases. Three symptoms that warrant concern meningitis are fever, headache, and stiff neck.
Meningitis symptoms Happens to Children
The disease is often suffered by babies and children, but people of all ages can suffer from meningitis as well. Signs that occur in children are:
- They may feel agitated, but do not want to be touched
- High fever with cold hands and feet feeling
- Crying continuously
- Looks confused and less responsive
- Some children will easily drowsy and difficult to wake
- There may be a red rash that does not disappear when a glass rolled out with a little pressed on it
The symptoms of meningitis that occurs in children greater and adults, include:
- Vomiting
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- High fever with a temperature of 38 ° C or more
- Rapid breathing
- Sensitive to light or photophobia
- Skin rash in the form of red spots scattered (does not happen to everyone)
There is a possibility that not everyone will experience all of the symptoms above. Seek medical help immediately if you notice symptoms of meningitis occur in children.
In general, there are two types of meningitis:
Bacterial meningitis, caused by bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae and spread through close contact
Viral meningitis, caused by a virus that can be spread through coughing, sneezing and unhygienic environment
Definition of bacterial meningitis
Bacterial meningitis infection is not treated can cause severe brain damage and infect the blood (septicemia). Bacterial meningitis is a very serious disease and is regarded as an emergency medical condition. Cases of transmission of bacterial meningitis befall many infants under one year of age, although adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old can also be infected with bacterial meningitis.
Understanding Meningitis Virus
Viral meningitis is more common in children. This is the most common type of meningitis and bacterial meningitis are not as serious. Meningitis have similar symptoms to flu symptoms. That is why most people misinterpret meningitis as the common flu. It is difficult to determine the number of patients with meningitis due to these similarities.
Emergency Management and Diagnosis Meningitis
If suspected of having meningitis, treatment should begin as soon as possible, even before the diagnosis because it is very dangerous to delay treatment. Some tests may take several hours to get the result. The doctor will perform a physical examination to look for signs of meningitis or septicemia (blood infection), for example, find out if there is a rash of meningitis. Several other tests were also performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnosis of meningitis is difficult because the symptoms appear suddenly and are similar to flu symptoms. Advised to seek immediate medical help if you see the symptoms of meningitis, especially if it occurs in children. You may have to go to the emergency room (ER) nearest hospital whenever these symptoms appear. Do not wait for the appearance of a purple rash because not all people with meningitis have a rash on his body.
Steps Treatment of Meningitis
Viral meningitis patient's condition will usually improve within a few weeks. Handling of meningitis can be done with lots of rest and drink painkillers for headaches. While the treatment of meningitis in patients with bacterial meningitis, can be treated with antibiotics or drugs to treat infections caused by bacteria. Care needs to be done in the hospital. For more severe cases, it is advisable treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) so that the body's vital functions can be closely monitored.
Meningococcal disease is a combination of meningitis and septicemia. One out of ten cases of meningococcal disease leads to death. Decades ago, nearly everyone who suffer from bacterial meningitis will die. Now the only deaths caused by septicemia (blood infection). There are 25 percent of the overall patient will experience complications of meningitis, such as hearing loss after exposure to bacterial meningitis.
Diseases Meningitis Vaccination
There are two types of meningitis vaccine, the meningococcal vaccine polysakarida and meningococcal conjugate vaccines. Polysakarida meningococcal vaccine can be given for any age and is able to provide protection for 90-95 percent. For children under 5 years of age, the vaccine can last 1-3 years. As for the adults will protect for 3-5 years. For mengingokokus conjugate vaccine only to the age of 11-55 years.
The best way to prevent meningitis is to receive vaccinations available. But because it is arguably rarely, meningitis vaccination has not been included in the mandatory vaccine schedule in Indonesia.
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