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.
Viral infections generally produce a milder, self limited illness, cured through the functionality of a healthy immune system. All meningitis infections, however, require comprehensive, definitive diagnosis by a medical doctor. Treatment and, thereby, outcome, is relevant to the source of infection. Cultures that reveal a fungal source require appropriate anti-fungal therapy.
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.
Bacterial infiltration can sometimes be distinguished from viral with additional signals that herald the seriousness of this infection. Often, the patient will have recently recovered from a sore throat with indications of a respiratory infection prior to the onset of symptoms suggestive of meningitis. The appearance of a red to purplish skin rash points toward a definitive diagnosis for bacterial meningitis.
Infants who develop a high fever along with abnormal irritability and relentless crying, sluggishness and a change in willingness to feed, are suspect for this illness until medically evaluated. Ominous signals include a bulging soft spot on the top of the baby's head and stiffness in the body and neck of the infant.
Educated with the signs and symptoms of meningitis, early recognition allows for timely, comprehensivemedical intervention, resulting in fewer complications and unnecessary deaths. While viral cases are generally self-limited and run their course without complication, bacterial cases necessitate accurate, differential diagnosis for proactive cure without permanent, life-altering complications.
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.
Viral infections generally produce a milder, self limited illness, cured through the functionality of a healthy immune system. All meningitis infections, however, require comprehensive, definitive diagnosis by a medical doctor. Treatment and, thereby, outcome, is relevant to the source of infection. Cultures that reveal a fungal source require appropriate anti-fungal therapy.
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.
Bacterial infiltration can sometimes be distinguished from viral with additional signals that herald the seriousness of this infection. Often, the patient will have recently recovered from a sore throat with indications of a respiratory infection prior to the onset of symptoms suggestive of meningitis. The appearance of a red to purplish skin rash points toward a definitive diagnosis for bacterial meningitis.
Infants who develop a high fever along with abnormal irritability and relentless crying, sluggishness and a change in willingness to feed, are suspect for this illness until medically evaluated. Ominous signals include a bulging soft spot on the top of the baby's head and stiffness in the body and neck of the infant.
Educated with the signs and symptoms of meningitis, early recognition allows for timely, comprehensivemedical intervention, resulting in fewer complications and unnecessary deaths. While viral cases are generally self-limited and run their course without complication, bacterial cases necessitate accurate, differential diagnosis for proactive cure without permanent, life-altering complications.
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