Meningitis is an inflammation and infection of the membranes and fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain. These membranes are known as meninges. When meninges become inflamed, it leads to symptoms like fever, stiff neck, and headache.
The effect of meningitis is different for every child. Some children easily recover in a few weeks, while others develop serious symptoms and require emergency treatment. Unfortunately, meningitis is reasonably common in South Africa affecting every 4 out of 100,000 cases in the region are children.
The most common symptom of meningitis is a fever that can develop after a few hours of contracting the illness. Other symptoms that children might develop are:
Signs of meningitis in newborns are:
The most common cause of meningitis is a viral infection. Meningitis can also be caused by a bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection as well. Bacterial infections are serious and can lead to death, learning the cause of meningitis is essential for treatment. Infections and conditions that are known to cause meningitis are:
Some common risk factors include:
If you notice any symptoms in your child, take them to doctors as soon as possible. The doctors will assess your child’s medical condition, and if they suspect meningitis, they will run some tests, such as a lumbar puncture, to get a sample of spinal fluid. A lumbar puncture will help to identify signs of inflammation and the cause behind the disease. Delay in treatment might cause the situation to worsen and lead to complications like:
The type of treatment your child needs will depend on the type of meningitis. For instance, bacterial meningitis is treatable with antibiotics and viral meningitis usually goes away on its own without treatment. It is important for children to rest, stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet while recovering from meningitis. Some children may need to be hospitalized if they show severe symptoms or become dehydrated.