Meningitis: Difficult to detect; life-threatening consequences

Mar 05, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

By Dr Zulfikar Bux

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

On Friday last, I saw a child with this condition and he is very sick. It bothers me and I didn’t

Dr Zulfikar Bux

sleep much that night. He is very sick and I am worried for him. This condition took the life of a young person only a few weeks ago. In both cases, family members thought it was a persistent flu. That’s the dangerous thing about meningitis. It initially presents with flu-like symptoms and can cause delay in treatment which only worsens the patient chances.

I have decided to write on it today because it is a deadly condition and one’s chances of survival lie in early treatment.

WHAT IS MENINGITIS?

Meningitis is a condition that can cause a fever, headache, and stiff neck. It happens when the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord (called the “meninges”) gets inflamed or infected.

There are 2 main types of meningitis, depending on which germs are causing the infection. Bacteria cause bacterial meningitis. Viruses cause viral meningitis. Both types of meningitis can cause similar symptoms.

Today we will focus on bacterial meningitis since it tends to have more serious consequences.

It is very important that doctors figure out what kind of meningitis a person has. That’s because bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. If it is not treated quickly, it can lead to brain problems such as hearing loss or learning problems or even leave you bed-ridden for life. It can also lead to death, especially if there is a delay in treatment.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BACTERIAL MENINGITIS?

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis usually come on suddenly, so people can get very sick over a short period of time. Common symptoms include:

Fever – But some people have a temperature that is lower than normal instead of a fever.
Headache
Stiff neck – This happens most often in adults and children. Babies might not get a stiff neck.
Nausea or vomiting
Acting confused, or being hard to wake up
Having light bother a person’s eyes
A rash that looks like red or purple spots on the skin that do not go away when touched
Seizures – Seizures are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can make people pass out, or move or behave strangely.

Babies can also have other symptoms, including:

Being more sleepy or fussy than usual
Not feeding well
A bulging soft spot on the skull

SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?

Yes. If you have a fever, headache, and stiff neck, go to the emergency room right away. If you think your child has meningitis, bring him or her to the emergency room right away.

ARE THERE TESTS TO DETECT THIS CONDITION?

Yes. Your doctor will learn about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she will do tests to see if you have meningitis and find out what type of bacteria is causing the infection. The tests can include:

Blood tests
A lumbar puncture (sometimes called a “spinal tap”) – During this procedure, a doctor puts a thin needle into your lower back and removes a small amount of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. He or she will do lab tests on the spinal fluid.
A CT scan of the brain – This is an imaging test that creates pictures of the brain.

HOW IS BACTERIAL MENINGITIS TREATED?

People are treated in the hospital with:

Antibiotic medicines that go into a vein through a tube called an “IV” – The antibiotics used depend on the type of bacteria causing the infection.
Fluids and other medicines that go into a vein – These medicines sometimes include “steroids.” The steroids help protect your brain from the effects of the bacterial meningitis. They are different from the steroids athletes take to build muscle.

CAN BACTERIAL MENINGITIS BE SPREAD FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER?

Sometimes. It depends on the type of bacteria that’s causing the infection. Some types of bacteria can be spread from one person to another.

CAN BACTERIAL MENINGITIS BE PREVENTED?

Sometimes. Certain vaccines can help prevent bacterial meningitis. Vaccines are treatments that can prevent certain serious infections.

To help prevent bacterial meningitis, make sure that you and your children have had all of the vaccines you need to prevent the following infections:

Meningococcus
Pneumococcus
Haemophilusinfluenzae type b, called “Hib” (for babies and young children)

If someone in your home has bacterial meningitis, ask your doctor if you should take antibiotics. Sometimes, other people at home need to take antibiotics to keep from getting the infection. Plus, you can help avoid getting sick by washing your hands well before eating, and not sharing cups or silverware.

The next time you or someone you know have symptoms that may look like the flu, keep an eye out for symptoms of meningitis. If you suspect any, do not hesitate to go to your doctor.