Meningitis Symptoms

If the diagnosis or meningitis treatment is late (visit your doctor if there are any of meningitis symptoms), the possibility of irreversible brain damage and even death is increasing, especially among very young children and the elderly. In most cases, patients recover completely, but some develop convulsive attacks, which require prolonged treatment.

The consequence of meningitis may be an irreversible deterioration of intellectual function and paralysis.

About one-third of adults have experienced bacterial meningitis may experience weakening of mental function. About four out of six cases of meningitis developed as a result of bacterial infections. Scientists assessed the cognitive output of the 155 adults that had bacterial meningitis, and compared its performance with 72 healthy “control” subjects.

Neurophysiologic tests revealed deterioration of brain function in 32% of patients compared to 5.5% in the control group. There is no connection between brain function and time elapsed since the recovery after meningitis had been found. As a result, further analysis of data, scientists have identified two additional factors affecting the state of cognitive function - the patient’s sex, and intracranial nerve damage. The risk of meningitis has increased in three and five times respectively.

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Treatment is carried out only in a hospital (you should call a doctor if you have any meningitis symptoms). As bacterial meningitis (especially caused by meningococcus) can lead to death within a few hours, there should be urgent medical attention. Wanton temperature increase in the body in children under 2 years required immediate full medical examination, especially if the child is becoming more and more irritable or unusually sleepy, refuses to eat, if he is vomiting, cramps or stiff neck develops.

If the treatment started immediately, death occurs only in 10% of patients with bacterial meningitis. After treatment the patients should be supervised by neurologist.

Convalescent needed to avoid unnecessary physical and emotional pressures, prolonged sun exposure, excess fluid admission, limit the amount of salt, to exclude the use of alcohol.

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