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Although meningitis is a rare disease it is
important that parents are able to recognise the sign and symptoms quickly,
the two major viruses behind the reasons why children catch meningitis
are bacterial and viral, with bacterial being the more deadly of the two.
What are the causes of bacterial meningitis?
The three main causes of bacterial meningitis in children under the age
of 4 months are Streptococcus pneumonia which is the most common, Hemophilus
influenzae and neisseria meningitides or meningococcus.
What signs or symptoms should I be aware of?
Children who have meningitis are usually very ill, but the specific signs
and symptoms of meningitis can differ considerably from child to child
depending on the child's age, in babies younger than 3 months the symptoms
can be very hard to diagnose. However symptoms the baby might show are:
* Intense drowsiness
* Irritability
* Fever
* Bright red rash
Older children are generally easier to diagnose and the symptoms above
may be present along with:
* Stiffness of the neck
* Vomiting
* Intense headache
It is important to note that not all of the signs and symptoms listed
above may be present at the same time; the rash is usually one of the
last signs to appear on a child and is a very distinct sign of meningitis.
It shows as bright red spots which when a glass is rolled over them does
not disappear, children are usually very ill with meningitis and if you
notice any of the signs or symptoms in your child regardless of whether
your child has a rash or not then you should contact your Doctor immediately.
How do Doctors diagnose meningitis?
The only way to be absolutely sure that your child has meningitis is to
take what is called a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap test, the procedure
involves freezing an area of the lower back then inserting a hollow needle
between the spinal bones in order to get a sample of spinal fluid. The
fluid is then sent for analysis which will determine if the child has
meningitis, if the fluid determines they do then it will be tested to
see which bacteria is the cause.
What are the complications of meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis is an extremely dangerous infection and one which
can cause several problems, damage to the brain can occur with deafness,
seizures, paralysis and loss of limbs due to the infection spreading through
the blood, sadly in some cases even death.
What treatment is there for meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis is usually treated with intravenous antibiotics,
if they are started immediately then fortunately, they can decrease the
risk of complications due to the illness, this is why it is extremely
important that if you suspect your child may have meningitis you seek
immediate help.
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