Headaches - Meningitis

Meningitis is a nasty viral or bacterial infection that we only tend to hear about when there is a local epidemic that results in a news report. Meningococcal meningitis is the most common of the bacterial winter epidemics; therefore this will be the main one addressed of meningitis infections.

Meningitis inflames the meninges. The meninges are a layer that surrounds the outside of the brain and spinal cord. A sad fact is that it seems to be more common in children, however adults are at risk. This illness can be life threatening, so if you find yourself or someone you know with any of the following symptoms, please go to your nearest hospital, as bacterial meningitis can develop very rapidly and is potentially deadly.


Symptoms

The symptoms progress very quickly, and may develop within a few hours. The person affected may feel an intense throbbing pain at the back of their head, and may begin to vomit and shiver.


Other symptoms include

• Increased temperature - 38.9 degrees C (102 degrees F) and above.
  
• A stiff neck. Have the person attempt to raise one knee up to their chest, if they find this causes neck pain, meningitis should be considered.
  
• Nausea and vomiting.
  
• Red or purple spots/rash anywhere on the body. If you apply a clear glass against the rash and the colour does not fade under pressure, contact your doctor immediately.
  
• Photophobia (sensitivity to light).
  
• Holding the neck rigid, as moving the neck can produce extremely painful spasms, this is due to the inflamed membranes of the meninges.
  
• Drowsiness, to losing consciousness.
  

Many of these symptoms are a result of the increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. The symptoms for viral meningitis are much milder; they can often be mistaken for the influenza virus.


Official diagnosis

The only way diagnosis can be made is through a procedure called a lumber puncture. This can be done while the patient is awake, where a needle is inserted into the spine to remove a small sample of spinal fluid. It is this fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. A mild sedative should be given for this procedure. This is then tested for the bacteria (or virus). It is an invasive test, which can be quite uncomfortable/painful, but is necessary to diagnose this potentially deadly condition.


Treatment

The treatment for viral meningitis is limited, as antibiotics do not work for viruses. Therefore the treatment is comprised of bed rest in a dark room, along with plenty of painkillers. It usually clears within a week or two with no permanent damage to the body once recovered.

Bacterial meningitis is much more serious and requires immediate hospitalisation. Large doses of intravenous (in the vein) antibiotics will be given during this time, along with painkillers and the sufferer is placed in a darkened room. If treatment is not given immediately, the chance of recovery is slim (yes, it means you can die from bacterial meningitis). If treatment is given too late and death does not result there is a high chance of brain damage, which may cause blindness and deafness.


Prevention

Fortunately there is a vaccination for Hib (Haemophilus influenza b). This bacteria occurs mostly in children aged 6-15 months. The vaccine is often routinely given to children in this age bracket, however the downfall is that these vaccines are short lived, but they can be helpful when there is a known epidemic. Other forms of prevention are to give those who are in contact with someone with the infection antibiotics (even if they do not have the illness). This is thought to be a more effective treatment of prevention.


Encephalitis

Encephalitis is caused by the inflammation of the nerve cells in the brain. It can be cause by a variety of other illnesses that are viral infections.
These include:

Herpes

Measles

Mumps

Chicken pox

HIV virus

If it arises it can cause persistent vomiting, fever, stiff neck, photophobia (fear of bright lights), drowsiness, convulsions and sometimes loss of consciousness. This is extremely life threatening and requires urgent medical attention. Treatment is limited, as encephalitis is a virus (and antibiotics do not work for viruses- only bacteria), therefore hospitalisation is required. The medications are used to control fever, along with the use of analgesics for pain. Fortunately encephalitis is a rare disease.


- Louise Ganey