Bacterial Meningitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Meningitis is a rare but serious infection of the meninges. The meninges are the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacteria, which is sometimes caused by a fungus.
Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than viral meningitis. It is caused by bacteria that live in the nose and throat and are usually harmless. But they can enter the bloodstream and spread to the membrane surrounding the brain, causing meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. It can kill within hours, so early diagnosis and treatment are vital.
Bacterial meningitis causes
Many different bacteria can cause meningitis, the most common being meningococcal, pneumococcal, TB, group B streptococcal and E.coli.
How do you treat bacterial meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis needs rapid admission to hospital and urgent treatment with antibiotics. If treated promptly, bacterial meningitis is less likely to become life-threatening.
What are the symptoms of bacterial meningitis?
The bacterial meningitis symptoms in very young children and babies include:
- fever
- a bulge in the soft spot on top the head (the fontanelle)
- yellow skin (jaundice)
- unusual or high-pitched crying
- inactivity or floppiness
- irritability
- feeding problems
- holding their head back and arching their back
- being difficult to wake
- purple-red skin rash or bruising
- pale or blotchy skin
- seizures (fits)
The most common symptoms of meningitis in older children and adults are:
- fever
- sensitivity to light
- very bad headache and stiff or sore neck
- nausea or vomiting and loss of appetite
- tiredness and drowsiness
- irritability
- confusion
- purple-red skin rash or bruising
- muscle and joint pains
- seizures (fits)
Initial symptoms of bacterial meningitis are similar to those of viral meningitis. However, bacterial meningitis is usually severe and can cause serious complications, such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities. The pathogens (germs) that cause bacterial meningitis can also be associated with another serious illness, sepsis. Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to infection. Without timely treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
The signs and symptoms do not appear in a definite order and some may not appear at all. Not all cases of meningitis will cause a rash.
This symptoms list does not include every possible sign and symptom of meningitis.
How is bacterial meningitis treated?
Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated quickly. If bacterial meningitis is diagnosed, antibiotics (often injectable or intravenous) will be used. They may be given for up to 3 weeks. Other medicines such as corticosteroids may also be given to help reduce the risk of complications, such as brain swelling or seizures.
People in close contact are sometimes given antibiotics to reduce their risk of developing the illness.
