Meningitis is a serious global public health issue, particularly affecting children, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). This inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord can be fatal if not treated swiftly. The article explains the causes, symptoms by age group, and urgent actions to take if meningitis is suspected, including immediate medical attention and diagnostic procedures such as a lumbar puncture to identify the underlying infection and initiate appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Globally, meningitis is a significant public health issue, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). This condition, which refers to the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, can be fatal if not treated promptly. Children are particularly at risk. But how can one recognize the initial signs of this illness, and what steps should be taken? We’ll explain.
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is defined as “an infection of the spinal cord and the membranes encasing the brain,” according to the Pasteur Institute. This illness is typically caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi and can be transmitted from one person to another. In rare instances, it may arise from an injury, cancer, or certain medications, as per WHO guidelines. In newborns, bacterial infections in the blood, termed sepsis, are often responsible for meningitis. Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes are the common culprits. Older infants and children can acquire the disease due to respiratory bacteria, predominantly Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. In any case, meningitis could be life-threatening if not addressed immediately.
What Symptoms Should Raise Concern?
The symptoms of meningitis differ according to the child’s age. In infants under one year, the first signs may include unusual irritability and restlessness, particularly when being held; abnormal drowsiness resembling lethargy; vomiting; seizures; abnormal body temperature (either too high or too low); poor feeding; or a rash. The emergence of strabismus in a newborn may also signal the disease, as the nerves controlling specific eye movements can be affected by bacteria. Overall, doctors note that in babies younger than four months, meningitis can lead to a rapid decline in their condition, shifting from alert and active to near death within just 24 hours.
For older children and adolescents, the symptoms of meningitis can differ. The disease typically presents with fever, headaches, a stiff neck, and confusion. Seizures may also occur in some instances.
What to Do if Meningitis is Suspected?
If your child’s condition deteriorates rapidly and exhibits one or more symptoms of meningitis, call emergency services at 15 or 112, or rush to the nearest hospital emergency room. A physician will assess your child’s overall health and perform a lumbar puncture to help clarify the diagnosis. The collected fluid will be analyzed to identify the bacteria responsible for the infection.
If meningitis is confirmed – with the doctor using the color of the collected fluid to diagnose the disease – the child will be prescribed intravenous antibiotics and will need to be hospitalized for close and continuous monitoring. The antibiotic treatment will be adjusted once the results from the lumbar puncture are received.
Additional tests, such as blood samples, urine analysis, electroencephalograms, CT scans, or MRIs, may be conducted later to check for any potential brain damage caused by meningitis.