How dangerous is meningitis?
What exactly is meningitis? How do I recognize it and when is meningitis life-threatening? Find answers to these questions here and also find out what causes meningitis and what treatment options are available.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is – as the German term meningitis suggests – an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, the so-called meninges. Infants, young children and adolescents are generally more frequently affected by meningitis than adults. Since meningitis can be life-threatening, it is always considered an emergency from a medical point of view.
How does meningitis develop?
Meningitis is caused by infection with certain viruses, such as mumps or herpes viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. The pathogens can be transmitted from person to person via droplet infection. In some cases, it can also be caused by other stimuli that are not related to infection. These can be, for example, side effects of certain medications or cancer cells that have spread to the meninges.
Tick bites can also lead to a special form of meningitis, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Meningitis can also develop from Lyme disease , which is also transmitted by tick bites.
A special form is the so-called neonatal meningitis. It occurs in infants in the first month of life and is usually triggered by intestinal bacteria.
Bacterial meningitis, which is caused by bacteria such as meningococci or pneumococci , is the most dangerous form and must therefore be reported. It occurs frequently in winter and spring and mostly in young children and adolescents. Fortunately, this disease is relatively rare in our country: there are only 0.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Bacterial meningitis should be treated promptly. If this does not happen, it can be fatal in the worst case or result in serious damage such as deafness or epilepsy.
Viral meningitis is comparatively mild and usually heals on its own.
symptoms of meningitis
The first symptoms of viral or bacterial meningitis appear about three to four days after infection. They are usually similar to the symptoms of flu and are expressed, for example, by:
- high fever
- severe headache and body aches
- nausea and vomiting
- drowsiness and drowsiness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
There are also some typical symptoms:
- a stiff neck, i.e. bending the head towards the chest is not possible
- A skin rash in the form of red-brown spots is always a warning sign and indicates a life-threatening bacterial form caused by meningococci
- dizziness
- hearing impairment
The typical symptoms do not always appear in children, so that the less clear, flu-like symptoms often remain. However, an outwardly bulging fontanelle in infants can also be a sign.
How is meningitis diagnosed?
If you notice symptoms in you or your child that could indicate meningitis, you should see a doctor or a hospital immediately. A blood test and an examination of the cerebrospinal fluid will then first clarify whether it is a bacterial or viral form, because it is not always possible to tell the difference right away.
treatment of meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is usually treated with antibiotics. It is important that treatment begins as soon as possible to avoid life-threatening complications. For this reason, a broad-spectrum antibiotic or penicillin is often administered on suspicion even before a clear diagnosis is made. This also applies to people who may have become infected. They, too, are often given antibiotics as a precaution. In the case of blood poisoning, as occurs in meningitis caused by meningococci, treatment must take place in the hospital in the intensive care unit.
Viral meningitis usually does not require any special treatment. It usually heals on its own with bed rest within two weeks. Depending on the symptoms, antipyretics or painkillers can relieve the symptoms.
Can You Prevent Meningitis?
Various vaccinations can reduce the risk of contracting the disease. There are vaccinations against the bacteria pneumococci and Haemophilus influenza , which are recommended for children in their first year of life. In the second year of life, a meningococcal vaccination can further reduce the risk. The risk of viral meningitis can be reduced by vaccination against mumps in the second year of life. A vaccination against TBE also makes sense, especially if you live in a tick risk area.