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Meningitis is an inflammation that affects the three membranes that surround the brain, such as the spinal cord and parts of the central nervous system. It is highly dangerous and contagious especially in babies and there are several types of meningitis each with its specific cause and symptoms. The most common are viral, bacterial meningitis and the rarest fungal meningitis. In the case of viral meningitis, as its proper name says, it is affected by a virus, and it is the one that presents itself more mildly in both babies and children, with symptoms similar to that of the flu or a common virus . Symptoms of meningitis in infants or children are:
- Stiff neck, causing severe pain and making it impossible for the baby to move his head normally.
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
The fever and headache are common symptoms of meningitis also in children or babies, and so suspected it is advisable to look for a doctor to perform the test had proved that whether or not, and what type of meningitis. In the case of bacterial meningitis, it is already more worrying because of the severity it can bring and must be treated immediately in babies. It is caused by meningococcal, pneumococcal and hemophilic bacteria and is transmitted in a respiratory form. The symptoms appear faster and more aggressively than the viral one, and very high fevers can occur, causing in 40% of the cases convulsions, vomiting, reddish spots on the body.and difficulty in moving the neck area, especially with chin movements up and down and the baby’s softness may be higher than normal.
How is the Diagnosis of Meningitis in Babies and Children Performed?
This is a procedure much feared by moms, but necessary. The diagnosis of meningitis is carried out by puncture of liquid from the spine , where a needle is inserted to remove a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid or as known in cerebrospinal fluid, which will be sent to the laboratory for analysis, remembering that it is a procedure that does not requires anesthesia to perform it. Because it is a disease that needs rapid treatment, the result comes out in minutes and is performed within the hospital itself.
How to Treat Meningitis in Babies and What are the Sequelae?
The treatment of meningitis will start right after the exam results, where the specialist will know what type of meningitis he is dealing with and what the correct medicine to fight it. Usually, the patient must be hospitalized to receive adequate medication, such as antibiotics , in the case of viral meningitis, it is not always necessary to use medication. People who have had contact with the baby should be examined and if necessary collected material for testing and disposal of possible contagion. If meningitis is not treated immediately, severe sequelae can occur, such as deafness, permanent damage to the baby’s brain, learning difficulties, kidney failure and even death.
The target age group of meningitis is children from 0 to 5 years of age , so a vaccine is distributed to the age group of up to 2 years of age in all public health systems. If your baby has not yet been vaccinated, look for a health center near you and regularize the vaccination card.
See Also: Respiratory Diseases – Know What They Are and How to Prevent
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
