MENINGITIS. WARNING SIGNS

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Incidencia en la Población

Varios miles de casos son diagnosticados al año especialmente en Otoño, Invierno y Primavera. En África, el número es mayor, debido sobre todo a la falta de vacunación y al mayor contagio.

The first peak of this pathology appears in children, with the second taking place during adolescence and in young adults. The probability of this pathology emerging in older adults is much less frequent.

Meningitis is transmitted from person to person through drops of saliva, kisses, sneezes, shared bedrooms, glasses or kitchen utensils, etc.

Bacterial Meningitis is the most dangerous type of Meningitis and has an incubation period of a week. Its diagnosis needs to be completed quickly as its evolution is lethal in less than 24 hours.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms vary in accordance to age:


Babies

• High fever.

• Inconsolable crying.

• Irritability.

• Stiffness in the back of the neck.

• Projectile vomiting.

Children, adolescents and adults.

• High fever.

• Intense headache.

• Stiffness in the back of the neck.

• Vomiting.

• Photo sensibility. Pain when looking to light sources.

Diagnosis

• Medical history

• Physical exploration

• Spinal tab

• Cultures of samples of blood, faeces, etc.

An additional symptom of this pathology is the emergence of red spots throughout the body named ‘petechiae’. These appear when the infection has spread throughout the body and it is a sign of extreme gravity, however it does not appear in every case.

Treatment

Antibiotics are administered in the cases of Bacterial Meningitis, as soon as a diagnosis is made. Treatments for the remaining types of this pathology vary in accordance to the germ that has caused it.

Prevention

Vaccines are the best way to prevent the emergence of this pathology. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that 70% of cases of Meningitis are prevented when a campaign of vaccinations is administered to the mass population.

Meningitis is a terrible pathology that will one day be eradicated through prevention.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez                                                                                              

Medical Director of HealthSalus