Meningitis in children: the types of diseases

The main symptoms of meningitis known for a long time, they described Avicenna in the XI century. For several centuries, it is the struggle with the disease, however, and today meningitis - this is a very serious illness, especially in children. During meningitis in children (especially small ones) have their own characteristics.

What is meningitis

Meningitis - an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis occurs in all countries of the world and different climatic zones. Causes of meningitis are bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.

There it is in people of any age, but most often in young children. A more frequent occurrence of meningitis in children due to the fact that the infectious agent is easier to pass the blood-brain barrier (transfer of infectious agents from the blood into brain tissue) in the body of the child. Furthermore, children deficient immunity and it also facilitates the development of the disease.

All of meningitis can be divided into purulent (they are usually caused by a bacterial infection) and serous (a consequence of a viral infection).

Meningeal syndrome

For all forms of meningitis is characterized by symptoms that are combined in the meningeal syndrome. Full meningeal syndrome is not always observed, especially in young children. The main meningeal symptoms include:

• severe headache, increasing from external influences (sound, light);
• vomiting without nausea unrelated to food intake and not passing after vomiting;
• high temperature, which can not be removed by conventional medications;
• rigidity (stiffness), muscle neck and back; when lying on the back of the child to try to press your chin to your chest, feel resistance; sometimes it is absolutely impossible to do;
• children up to one year to the meningeal symptoms include tension and bulging fontanelle large;
• the child usually lies on his side, his head thrown back and his legs drawn up to his stomach.

Serous meningitis in children

Among serous meningitis in children occupy a principal place of meningitis, the called mumps virus (mumps) and intestinal Coxsackie virus and ECHO. Most of these meningitis occur in children of preschool and early school age. The children first year of life, they are extremely rare.

Serous meningitis viral children begin sharply - to raise the temperature to high numbers, the appearance of headache Headache , Repeated pain, meningeal phenomena of varying severity. Some children meningeal symptoms can not be detected, which is often the cause of diagnostic errors.

Intensity of meningeal symptoms and severity usually depend on the size of the intracranial pressure. Children of preschool age intracranial pressure reaches a higher figure than in older children. Acute viral serous period lasts three - five days, complete recovery occurs in about two weeks.

Treatment of serous meningitis is aimed at reducing intracranial pressure, for this sick child entered diuretics desensitizing (rented allergic disposition), fortifying agents, vitamins Vitamins for everyone .

Purulent meningitis in children

In young children especially watch purulent meningitis. In newborns purulent meningitis always and often occur on the background of the birth trauma and sepsis. In young children are particularly frequent secondary purulent meningitis with sepsis (infection of the blood) of various origins. In older children it is much more likely to occur against the background of meningitis diseases nasopharynx and the middle ear.

Purulent meningitis of any origin, particularly primary, usually begin in children acutely with chills, fever, appearance of headaches, vomiting, of brain disorders. Rapidly growing meningeal symptoms, increased sensitivity to any stimuli.

In young children often have cramps, skin has a grayish hue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sometimes - diarrhea and vomiting. From meningeal symptoms at this age is of particular importance voltage ripple and a large fontanelle. Older children are often disturbed consciousness, there is confusion, forced position with his head thrown back and legs bent. Meningeal syndrome clearly defined.

Purulent meningitis in the background, which is a complication of septic diseases, antibiotic treatment often begins subacute and often, especially in young children, is very difficult to diagnose. For the correct diagnosis are important signs of illness such as fever, general anxiety occurs periodically with a shrill cry, which alternates with apathy and inactive, not eating, recurrent vomiting, and sometimes convulsions.

Treatment of purulent meningitis - this antibacterial agents, which are selected according to the results of laboratory research and sensitivity to them pathogens. Intravenously administered agents, removes intoxication, diuretics.

The outcome of the disease depends on the timeliness and adequacy of treatment. When serous meningitis prognosis is more favorable.

Galina Romanenko

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