In the world there is a fairly large number of various viruses that can cause serious illness. Viral meningitis is one of the worst. Symptoms in children and adults, as well as possible causes, treatment methods are given in the article.
Definition
Viral meningitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the brain. The disease can occur against the background of another disease or be independent. The danger of meningitis is that its symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases. Its rapid development is also noted, which negatively affects the effectiveness of therapy.
Causes of occurrence
The main characteristic of viral meningitis is inflammation due to the penetration of pathogenic viruses into the meninges. Often, these conditions can be observed in people whose immunity is weakened due to a previous primary disease or a history of HIV.
Dangerous viruses can enter the human bodyby airborne droplets, through water or contaminated products. At the same time, it is not at all necessary that a person gets sick, but such a danger exists. The most common causes of this type of meningitis are:
- enterovirus;
- adenovirus;
- herpes virus;
- mumps virus;
- cytomegalovirus;
- Coxsackievirus.
In this case, mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects are considered carriers of the disease. This determines the frequency of diseases in the spring-summer period. The incubation period is several days after the virus enters a weakened human body.
Classification
How to treat viral meningitis? Therapy depends on the type of disease. According to the form of the course, meningitis can be divided into two categories:
- Primary, in which the disease develops on its own.
- Secondary meningitis - this means that inflammation of the meninges occurred against the background of another disease.
The following subspecies are divided by the time of appearance:
- Acute - if the first symptoms appear several hours after infection. In this case, the incubation period is maximally reduced.
- Subacute, in which symptoms appear after seven to ten days.
- Chronic form involves late detection of the disease.
Children are considered the most susceptible to viral meningitis, since the serous membrane of their brain does not yet have a strong protective barrier. Adults are often exposedbacterial variety of the disease.
Early signs
Early detection of painful symptoms is extremely important. Treatment of viral meningitis in children is quite effective if therapy is started on time. It is quite difficult to determine the onset of meningitis in a child, since most of its symptoms coincide with those of a common cold.
Most often the patient feels the following symptoms:
- A sharp rise in body temperature to 38-39 degrees.
- Intense headache that is difficult to stop with classic painkillers.
- Numbness of the neck muscles. It is caused by obstructed outflow of lymph and its stagnation.
- Lack of appetite.
- Nausea and occasional vomiting.
- Weakness and body aches.
In some cases, reddish spots on the head may also be observed, which disappear when pressed.
Main symptoms
What are the main symptoms of viral meningitis in adults? Treatment should be started immediately after the following manifestations of the disease are detected:
- Sharp pains in different areas of the head, which are characterized by increased intensity.
- Jumps in body temperature. It can reach 40 degrees. At the same time, the temperature is difficult to bring down with the help of simple drugs based on paracetamol.
- Increased sensitivity to light, sound and even touch.
- Persistent dizziness that gets worse with every turnor tilt your head.
- Impaired consciousness. Coma is possible in some cases.
- Frequent vomiting with no relief.
- Bouts of diarrhea.
- Sensation of pressure inside the eyeballs.
- Inflammatory process in the lymph nodes closest to the head.
Also one of the signs of meningitis is constant muscle tension, which makes it difficult for the patient to straighten his knees.
In rare cases, non-specific symptoms of the disease may occur, such as:
- increased blood pressure;
- convulsions;
- hearing loss;
- vision decrease.
The main task of the doctor is to recognize the symptoms of viral meningitis, which should be treated immediately.
Features of the disease in children
Depending on the age of the child, the specific manifestations of meningitis also change. So, for example, in babies under the age of one year, the following symptoms are observed:
- swelling fontanel;
- impaired consciousness.
Children in the period from one to three years old have such manifestations as uncontrolled hyperactivity, which is abruptly replaced by paralysis of the limbs. Also, the symptoms may be similar to those of polio.
A child over the age of three may experience skin rashes, hypertensive crisis, and severe headaches.
Diagnosis
Treatment of viral meningitis in children or adults is alwaysbegins with a preliminary examination and diagnosis. To obtain a complete clinical picture of the disease, it is necessary to carry out the following diagnostic procedures:
- Visual examination of a sick person. If his consciousness is not clouded, then you need to collect an anamnesis about his condition, as well as about the symptoms that the patient is experiencing.
- Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, which can be obtained by performing a lumbar puncture. With the viral nature of the disease, an increase in leukocytes is noted against the background of a normal glucose content.
- A biochemical blood test is necessary to detect an elevated globulin protein fraction.
- It is possible to isolate the causative agent of the disease with a thorough analysis of feces or blood.
In case of atypical course of meningitis, the following studies will be required to confirm a preliminary diagnosis:
- Electromyography - assessment of the state of the functions of skeletal muscles and nerve endings.
- Computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.
An experienced doctor may suspect a disease only on the basis of the patient's signs and complaints, but this does not mean that additional investigations are not necessary.
Principles of treatment
The course of the disease is particularly complex. It is for this reason that the treatment of viral meningitis is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting. At the same time, doctors give such recommendations that contribute to recovery:
- 24-hour bed rest;
- fortified nutrition, mainly from easily digestible foods;
- compliance with the drinking regimen to prevent dehydration;
- physical and mental peace.
These recommendations must be strictly observed in order to give the body the opportunity to suppress the action of the pathogenic virus.
Drug therapy
Treatment of viral meningitis cannot be carried out without comprehensive medical support. For these purposes, the following drugs are used:
- "Nurofen", "Dexalgin" for the relief of severe headaches.
- "Acyclovir" and analogues are used if the causative agent of meningitis is the herpes virus.
- "Arbidol", "Adamantane" are necessary if the causative agent of the disease is an enterovirus or adenovirus.
- Intravenous infusions of saline or Ringer's solution are necessary for dehydration due to prolonged high body temperature.
- Analgesic "Baralgin", "Analgin", as well as enzyme preparations "Festal", "Pancreatin" are necessary for dyspeptic disorders.
- "Cerucal" is used if the patient has nausea and vomiting.
- "Prednisolone" in the treatment of viral meningitis in a child is prescribed as a strong anti-inflammatory agent.
Also in individualImmunoglobulin-based drugs may be prescribed in order to boost immunity and improve its ability to fight the virus on its own.
Recipes of traditional medicine
Treatment of viral meningitis only with the use of folk remedies is not effective, but some components can have a beneficial effect on the immune system and the body as a whole, which gives a high chance of fighting the virus on its own and a speedy recovery. Often, infusions and decoctions of products such as:
- rosehip;
- chamomile;
- lime blossom;
- leaves and fruits of currants, wild strawberries;
- dandelion;
- St. John's wort;
- lavender color;
- mint;
- melissa;
- rosemary.
To prepare healing decoctions, you can use one of the proposed components, or you can combine them. Also, the method of preparation does not really matter, whether it is a decoction, infusion or vitamin tea. It is also considered useful to add natural bee honey to healing tea as a sugar substitute.
Possible consequences
Treatment of viral meningitis in adults is often without complications. However, it is more difficult for a child's body to cope with the disease, so later children may experience the following symptoms:
- frequent headaches;
- asthenia;
- carelessness;
- memory deterioration;
- absent-mindedness;
- hyperexcitability.
In rarecases, partial or complete paralysis of the limbs is noted. Fortunately, with timely treatment of viral meningitis, such unpleasant consequences can be avoided. It is also noted that most of them are observed within a few weeks after recovery.
With untimely therapy, the disease can lead to death. This happens in 10% of cases. Children under the age of ten are most commonly affected.
Prevention
Comprehensive prevention of the disease is extremely important, as it is quite difficult to treat. The optimal solution is vaccination, which is carried out for children from the age of one. Unfortunately, not all young parents agree with this method of prevention. Also, all interested adults under the age of 29 can receive the vaccine.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely protect yourself from the occurrence of meningitis, but you can work on strengthening the immune system so that it has the ability to fight viruses that enter the body.
