How to Spot Symptoms of Adult Meningitis

Symptoms, Treatment and Causes of Viral and Bacterial Meningitis

Nov 12, 2008 Jen Syrkiewicz

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, which are the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis infection can cause the meninges to become inflamed and swell, which can damage the nerves and the brain. This can cause symptoms such as a severe headache, vomiting, high fever, stiff neck and sensitivity to light. Many people (but not all) also develop a distinctive skin rash.

It is critically important to recognise Meningitis as soon as possible, to allow treatment to begin. Meningitis is difficult to diagnose. It comes on quite suddenly and can be easily confused with the flu because many of the symptoms are the same.

Understanding the Symptoms of Meningitis

If someone notices the slightest suggestion of meningitis, especially in a young child, he must get help immediately - even if this means going to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of the local hospital.

Don’t wait for the purple rash to appear. It doesn’t always happen. Meningitis is fast moving and dangerous and needs to be taken seriously. It doesn’t matter if the suspected diagnosis is wrong. It is more sensible to let a doctor make the official diagnosis.

In cases of suspected meningitis, treatment will usually begin before the diagnosis has been confirmed. This is because some of the tests can take several hours to complete and it could be dangerous to delay treatment for that amount of time.

Causes of Meningitis

Meningitis can be caused by:

Bacteria- such as streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria also responsible for pneumonia, which usually live harmlessly in the mouth and throat

Viruses- such as the herpes simplex virus.

Understanding Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common and less serious type of meningitis. There are approximately 3,000 cases of viral meningitis reported in England and Wales every year, but experts believe the true number is much higher. This is because in many cases of viral meningitis, the symptoms are so mild that they can often be mistaken for flu.

Viral meningitis is most common in young children and babies, especially in babies less than one year old. Viral meningitis usually gets better by itself within a couple of weeks, without the need for specific treatment.

Treatment for Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is extremely serious and should be treated as a medical emergency.

If the bacterial infection is left untreated, it can cause severe damage to the brain and infect the blood (septicaemia), leading to death.

Treatment requires a transfer to an intensive care unit so the body's functions can be supported while antibiotics are used to fight the infection.

There are approximately 2,000 cases of bacteria meningitis in England and Wales every year. The number of cases has sharply dropped in recent years due to a successful vaccination programme that protects against many of the bacteria that can cause meningitis.

Successful Treatment for Bacterial Meningitis

The treatment for bacterial meningitis has improved greatly. Several decades ago, almost all people with bacterial meningitis would die, even if they received prompt treatment. Now deaths occur in one in 10 cases, usually as a result of a delay in treatment.

Bacterial meningitis is most common in children and babies under the age of three, and in teenagers and young people aged 15-24.

The best way to prevent meningitis is to ensure that the whole family's vaccinations are up to date.

Source:

The National Health Service online resource

The copyright of the article How to Spot Symptoms of Adult Meningitis in General Medicine is owned by Jen Syrkiewicz. Permission to republish How to Spot Symptoms of Adult Meningitis in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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