Leukopenia, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia have
correlated with a poor outcome in patients
with bacterial meningitis. Patients with these abnormalities should be admitted for observation for twenty-four hours.
What are the 3 most common causes of bacterial meningitis?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). …
- Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). …
- Haemophilus influenzae (haemophilus). …
- Listeria monocytogenes (listeria).
Does meningitis cause jaundice?
Other symptoms of meningitis in babies can include:
jaundice
(a yellowish tint to the skin) stiffness of the body and neck. a lower-than-normal temperature.
What are complications of meningitis?
Main complications
Some of the most common complications associated with meningitis are:
hearing loss
, which may be partial or total – people who have had meningitis will usually have a hearing test after a few weeks to check for any problems. recurrent seizures (epilepsy) problems with memory and concentration.
What are the symptoms of bacterial meningitis?
- Painful, stiff neck with limited range of motion.
- Headaches.
- High fever.
- Feeling confused or sleepy.
- Bruising easily all over the body.
- A rash on the skin.
- Sensitivity to light.
What is the main cause of meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain
and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis.
How long can you have meningitis without knowing?
The first symptoms of viral meningitis typically appear
between 3 to 7 days
after being exposed to the infection. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis appear and progress quickly – bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous type of meningitis, and the infection progresses the fastest.
What organs are affected by meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering
the brain and spinal cord
. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis.
Can you fully recover from bacterial meningitis?
Some people with the infection die and death can occur in as little as a few hours. However,
most people recover from bacterial meningitis
. Those who do recover can have permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities.
Does meningitis weaken your immune system?
These studies show that
meningitis can permanently affect the body's immune system
. We now know that even beyond immediate life-threatening problems, meningitis can cause other issues down the road.
What happens if you have bacterial meningitis?
Approximately 80 percent of all cases are acute bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis
can be life threatening
. The infection can cause the tissues around the brain to swell. This in turn interferes with blood flow and can result in paralysis or even stroke.
Where is bacterial meningitis most commonly found?
Meningococcal disease
How long can meningitis last?
Most people who get mild viral meningitis usually recover completely in
7 to 10 days
without treatment. Antiviral medicine may help people with meningitis caused by viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza.
How do adults get meningitis?
Often it is the result of
an infection by bacteria that already live
in the nose and mouth. The bacteria enter the blood and become lodged in the brain's outer covering, the meninges. Meningitis can also be caused by the spread of an infection occurring near the brain, such as from the ears or the sinuses.
What antibiotics treat meningitis?
Commonly used meningitis treatments include a class of antibiotics called
cephalosporins
, especially Claforan
What are the signs of meningitis in adults?
- a high temperature.
- cold hands and feet.
- vomiting.
- confusion.
- breathing quickly.
- muscle and joint pain.
- pale, mottled or blotchy skin.
- spots or a rash.
