Meningitis

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and causes typical symptoms such as high fever, headache, neck and back stiffness. Many people in one place, such as rush hour, can increase the risk of infection. If you suspect meningitis, a doctor must be contacted immediately.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis (meningitis) is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which makes the membranes inflamed. The infection can also attack the cerebral cortex, the brain itself or the blood (sepsis). Often several of these conditions are seen at the same time. It is mainly children and young people who are affected by meningitis. Children in particular often get sepsis and meningitis at the same time.

Causes

Meningitis is caused by either viruses or bacteria infecting the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Often a common infection (typically from the nose/throat region) can spread further to the blood and from there to the meninges. In rare cases, tick bites can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria is a far more serious disease than meningitis caused by viruses.

Symptoms

• High fever

• Neck and back stiffness (unable to put chin on chest)

• Joint and muscle pain

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea

• Severe headache (which gets worse when the head is moved)

• Photosensitivity (will lie in a dark room)

• Cramps

• Skin rash. Small spots on the skin that cannot be pressed away with a glass are typical

• Abnormally lethargic or difficult to wake up from sleep

The symptoms of meningitis can resemble completely harmless fever conditions. Therefore, be careful if someone suddenly develops a high fever, and contact a doctor if you are unsure. In young children, the symptoms may be less obvious and harder to see than in adults.

Infect

As a rule, meningitis is seen as isolated cases. However, many people in one place (military/school/drugs) may be predisposed to outbreaks of meningitis. The term "infectious meningitis" is used for meningitis caused by the meningococcal bacterium. About 10% of the population have the meningococcal bacteria in the nose/throat region without being ill, and act as carriers of the disease. In the case of droplet infection, the bacteria can be transmitted to others, and some can develop meningitis.

Russ is particularly vulnerable. The combination of many people, little sleep, smoke and a lot of alcohol makes intoxication more susceptible to infection and the development of serious illness.

Vaccination

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that young people who are going to participate in the Russian celebrations and young people aged 17-19 consider getting vaccinated with the meningococcal A+C+W+Y conjugate vaccine. In recent years, an increased proportion of cases of meningitis in young people have been caused by meningococcal C and Y. The vaccine provides protection after about two weeks, and the effect lasts for several years.

Treatment

Meningitis is a very serious condition that is always treated in hospital. The purpose of the treatment is to stop the infection as quickly as possible and to prevent complications from occurring (development of shock).

In case of bacterial meningitis, high doses of antibiotics are given intravenously to fight the infection. High doses are necessary to ensure that sufficient amounts reach the meninges. The patient usually gets better quickly from this, but a course of up to several days must still be completed. If the meningitis is caused by a virus, medication for pain, nausea and possible restlessness is usually enough.

Intravenous cortisone is used to suppress the body's immune reaction in meningitis. The immune reaction in the case of meningitis is so powerful that it can result in increased pressure on the meninges and in the brain itself, and the blood pressure in the brain can also increase. These are potentially life-threatening conditions that require prompt treatment to prevent brain damage or death.

Sources:

Norwegian electronic medical handbook, Norwegian health informatics, Great Norwegian encyclopedia, Folkehelseinstituttet,