Meningitis is an inflammatory and infectious disease that affects the membranes of the brain. The causative agent of it are various kinds of infections, in particular bacteria, viruses, fungi. Pathology can develop independently or occur as a result of complications of other diseases. It is very important to know exactly what are the first signs of meningitis in adults, so that you can recognize the course of the pathology in a timely manner and carry out treatment.
Features of the disease
Meningitis is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the membranes of the brain, which occurs due to the penetration of an infection into the body. Among the pronounced clinical signs, the following can be distinguished:
- neck muscle tension;
- severe headache;
- impaired consciousness;
- temperature increase.
Signs of meningitis in adults may be different, it all depends on the course of the disease. It manifests itself as a primary reaction to infection of the meninges or secondary inflammation that occurs whensevere course of other disorders. Such a pathology threatens with a fatal outcome, disability of the patient, as well as incurable disorders of the body.
Sheaths cover the brain, they can be soft or hard. There are certain types of disease, depending on the area of inflammation. They can be as follows:
- leptomeningitis - damage to the soft membranes;
- pachymeningitis - inflammation of the hard shell;
- panmeningitis - defeat of all membranes of the brain.
Basically, inflammation of the soft membranes of the brain is observed. This disease is one of the most dangerous, as it provokes the occurrence of serious complications, disability, and he alth problems. Treatment is carried out with the help of various antibacterial drugs that help destroy most pathogens. A special vaccine is used as a prophylaxis.
Causes of occurrence
To determine what signs of meningitis in adults and children may be, you need to understand exactly why this disease occurs. Inflammation of the meninges can be formed under the influence of various infections. Depending on the type of pathogen, the signs of meningitis in adults may vary slightly, and the tactics of therapy are also selected separately.
The most favorable in terms of recovery is the viral type of the disease. At the same time, the degree of brain damage is minimal, and with timely diagnosis and treatment, dangerous complications and death of the patient occur.rare enough. Viral meningitis occurs as a complication of existing infectious diseases, such as:
- measles;
- mumps;
- syphilis and others.
Pathways for the penetration of pathogens into the membranes of the brain are very different. They can get through the blood, through the cerebrospinal fluid, and also with the lymph flow. Unlike the bacterial form, viruses provoke a very complex inflammation of a serous nature without the release of pus. In the viral form, the acute stage takes about 2-3 days, then there is a short relief, and then the symptoms increase again.
The bacterial form has more pronounced symptoms and is characterized by a severe course of the disease, as well as the development of dangerous complications. The highest risk of death is observed precisely with this type of violation.
When the inflammatory process proceeds on the surface of the meninges, the formation of pus is noted, which greatly impedes the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, which provokes a rapid increase in intracranial pressure. Among the main signs of meningitis in adults are intoxication and high fever.
This form is very often accompanied by confusion of thinking, disturbance of consciousness, the presence of hallucinations, as well as increased mental activity. With a sharp multiplication of pathogens, the patient may even fall into a coma. Very often, bacterial meningitis occurs as a complication of chronictonsillitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, abscesses, sinusitis, osteomyelitis. Boils can be dangerous, as they act as sources of pathogens that, together with the blood, can spread throughout the body.
Tuberculosis meningitis occurs as a result of the fact that tuberculosis microbacteria spread throughout the body and penetrate into the membranes of the brain. In addition, other pathogenic microorganisms and their combination can also provoke the development of inflammation. That is why a protozoan and fungal form may appear. Meningitis can develop as a complication of processes during metastasis of neoplasms, as well as diseases of the connective tissue.
Classification
Signs of meningitis in an adult can vary significantly depending on the classification of the course of the pathological process. According to the nature of inflammation, doctors distinguish the following types:
- purulent;
- bacterial;
- serous.
- viral.
The serous type of meningitis is characterized by the absence of purulent discharge, as well as an easier course. The group of such types of inflammation includes:
- fluy;
- tuberculous;
- enteroviral;
- syphilitic;
- mumps.
Doctors classify meningitis according to the nature of its course and distinguish the fulminant course, acute and chronic form. The lightning-fast appearance develops over a period of only a few hours, especially itcharacteristic of infants. The incubation period is almost always absent, and death can occur literally a day after infection.
The acute form of the disease affects the body literally within a few days and is characterized by severe signs of meningitis in adults. Often ends with the development of dangerous complications or death of the patient. The chronic form develops gradually, the symptoms increase all the time and become more pronounced.
Furthermore, meningitis is classified by the location of the inflammation, it can affect only a certain part of the brain or the entire surface of it.
The course of the disease in adults
The disease mostly affects young men in their 20s and 30s. Often the causative agents of pathology are pneumococci, meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae. In addition, there is a tuberculosis form. The most common causes of inflammation are diseases such as:
- sinusitis;
- carious processes;
- otitis media;
- respiratory infections;
- bronchitis.
Women are much less likely to develop meningitis, but during pregnancy, this likelihood increases dramatically, as there is a decrease in immunity. If there are signs of meningitis in an adult, you should consult a doctor for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. In addition, prevention is required, the basis of which is vaccination, treatment of inflammatoryprocesses, timely rehabilitation, limiting contact with a sick person.
The course of the disease in children
In a child under the age of 5, meningitis poses a high degree of danger, since the risk of death is quite high. Complications at this age also have a very bad effect on the condition of the baby. The most severe form of the disease develops when a child becomes infected during passage through the birth canal. Inflammation proceeds literally with lightning speed, provoking the most dangerous consequences. For children aged 1-5 years, predominantly viral forms of meningitis are characteristic, since they differ in less pronounced symptoms and consequences. The bacterial type of the disease is much more difficult to tolerate, so vaccination is required for protection.
Main symptoms
The disease is characterized mainly by an acute course. In most cases, the first signs of meningitis in adults are observed, such as:
- temperature increase;
- chill;
- rapid breathing;
- increased ESR and leukocytes;
- tachycardia.
They resemble the course of a cold, which is why it is very difficult to make a correct diagnosis in the initial stages. In addition, there are quite specific symptoms and signs of meningitis in adults, which include the following:
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache;
- an increase in the occipital muscles;
- skin rashes;
- light and sound intolerance.
There is no localization of the headache and over time it becomes simply unbearable, and any movement makes it worse. In some cases, the disease may occur in an adult without a temperature. The signs of meningitis in this case are somewhat mixed, which is quite difficult to recognize.
When mild, the disease can manifest itself as a small dark red rash that disappears in just a few days. If the bruising and red spots are quite large, then this may indicate severe meningitis.
Diagnostics
Meningitis is a very complex and dangerous disorder. Symptoms of the disease in adults can be quite blurred, which is why, in order to prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to carry out diagnosis and treatment in time. It is important not only to make a diagnosis, but also to determine the degree of development, the type of inflammation, its causative agent and localization. The main diagnostic methods include the following:
- patient complaints;
- examination of the patient;
- laboratory blood test;
- lumbar puncture.
Puncture is performed exclusively by a specialist using a long and thin needle. She needs to make a puncture through the skin at the level of the lower back and take the cerebrospinal fluid for further research. To study the features of the meninges and identify inflammation, tomography is required. To identify the causative agent of the disease and select the most high-quality treatment, a PCR analysis is prescribed.
Features of treatment
When it occurssigns of meningitis in adults, how to treat the disease can only be determined by a qualified doctor. The sooner therapy is started, the greater the patient's chances of a successful recovery. Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital. Basically, primary forms are treated in the infectious diseases department, and secondary ones - in the profile, depending on the main diagnosis.
If, with hypothermia of the head, the signs of meningitis in adults increase rapidly enough and cerebral edema progresses rapidly, the patient should be in the intensive care unit. The hospital prescribes antibiotic therapy, symptomatic treatment and measures aimed at eliminating pathogenic mechanisms.
Broad spectrum antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial meningitis. The most commonly prescribed medications are Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime in combination with Ampicillin and Benzylpenicillin.
If there are signs of viral meningitis in adults, antiviral agents such as Tiloron, as well as immunoglobulins, interferons, are prescribed for therapy. If meningitis was provoked by a tubercle bacillus, then anti-tuberculosis drugs are prescribed.
Possible Complications
When the first signs of meningitis appear in adults, treatment should be started immediately to minimize possible consequences. After a previous illness, the consequences will largely depend on which microorganism it was.provoked.
One of the most common and dangerous consequences provoked by meningitis is cerebral edema. It often develops in children and adolescents during the first days after the onset of the disease.
When meningococci enter the bloodstream, an infectious-toxic shock is formed. After such a complication, it occurs within 3 days. Young people may develop toxic shock and massive cerebral edema at the same time. Sometimes migraines, drowsiness and meteorological dependence become a consequence of previous meningitis for a long time. In other cases, complications such as:
- hearing loss;
- psychopathy and epilepsy;
- memory impairment and distraction;
- strabismus.
After the course of meningitis in childhood, severe complications can remain with a person for life, so the disease requires long-term therapy and regular monitoring by a doctor even after complete recovery.
Forecast and prevention
It is quite difficult to prevent the development of this dangerous and complex disease, since there are a lot of pathogens, so the system of preventive measures for each is completely different. The general rules are:
- early diagnosis;
- timely isolation of the patient;
- compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
- use of personal protective equipment;
- maintaining normal immunity.
The only methodpreventing the development of meningitis is vaccination. Often, meningococcal vaccine, MMR, and Haemophilus influenzae vaccine are used for these purposes.
Prognosis of the course largely depends on the individual characteristics of the patient and many other factors. It is rather ambiguous, since sometimes the disease proceeds reactively, and no emergency measures help to save the patient, and in other cases, the patient recovers completely without consequences.
