Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the meninges, which develops as an independent disease or as a secondary lesion due to the transfer of infection from any pathological focus in the body. This disease is most often diagnosed in children, although it can develop at any age.
Reactive meningitis: general characteristics
Inflammation of the meninges is classified depending on the pathogen. So, they distinguish viral, bacterial, syphilitic, as well as fungal, tuberculosis or other forms of this pathology.
And what is this disease - reactive meningitis? This is a lesion of the meninges, which is characterized by spontaneity and rapid development, as well as a high level of mortality. The lesion, as a rule, develops as a response of the body to the action of bacterial and viral agents. This pathology is also called neurotoxicosis. It is manifested by cerebral edema, which clinically resembles true meningitis.
Among the main causes of reactive meningitis are circulatory disorders in the brain tissues, as well as metabolic pathologies that cause acidosis and increase the permeability of the walls of blood vessels. In the development of neurotoxicosis is importantand the direct effect of toxins on the central nervous system.
Provoking factors can be pathologies of pregnancy (preeclampsia, difficult labor or fetoplacental insufficiency), convulsive readiness, which is characterized by the appearance of convulsions even with a slight increase in body temperature, as well as atopy and high nervous excitability.
Reactive Meningitis Clinic
This disease can occur against the background of various infectious pathologies, as well as otitis and sinusitis, furunculosis in the face or neck, as well as abscesses in the lungs.
The main symptoms of reactive meningitis are a sharp increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C and severe fever. Patients complain of attacks of nausea and vomiting. Rigidity of the occipital muscles is observed, pain in the throat may occur. It is worth noting that such a clinic is easily confused with manifestations of SARS. Death occurs if reactive meningitis is not treated promptly.
At the onset of the disease, patients are agitated. Shortness of breath and palpitations are recorded, convulsions may develop. A characteristic vasospasm is manifested by cold extremities and oliguria. If appropriate therapy is not carried out, signs of CNS depression develop due to cerebral edema. There is loss of consciousness, meningeal symptoms and continuous convulsions.
When reactive meningitis develops, the photo of patients in the final stages has specific features - strabismus attracts attention. In addition, there is dilated pupils, a rare heartbeat and a decrease intemperature, indicating damage to the medulla oblongata. The terminal phase of neurotoxicosis is a deep coma with cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Diagnosis and treatment
Timely detection of reactive meningitis is problematic due to the rapid clinical development and too late presentation of patients to medical facilities.
Cerebrospinal fluid microscopy may be used to identify the pathogen. As a rule, coccal flora is found in meningitis. In addition, the breakdown of erythrocytes, a large number of leukocytes and a high ESR in the general blood test are characteristic. Urine is dark in color and contains protein and blood.
Treatment of patients is carried out in the intensive care unit. Since the development of the disease is fulminant, antibiotics from the group of macrolides, cephalosporins or penicillins are immediately prescribed, which are characterized by a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action. Diuretics can be prescribed to reduce cerebral edema, and antispasmodic drugs and muscle relaxants can be prescribed to relieve convulsions and muscle spasm. The complex treatment includes glucocorticoids. If the disease has a viral etiology, then Niovir or Viferon are prescribed.
The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of recovery.
