Early symptoms of meningitis

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Meningitis is primarily a clinical display caused by various factors leading to inflammatory lesions and inflammatory exudation in the meninges. It can be triggered by viral infections, as well as bacterial, tuberculous, or fungal infections. Different pathogens can lead to different symptoms. The initial symptoms of meningitis mainly include the following aspects: First, patients generally experience significant fever, which can range from mild to high and persistent, closely related to the specific pathogen involved. Second, patients will have obvious headaches, as the meninges are irritated, and pain is certain. Third, it usually leads to symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as nausea and vomiting. Fourth, patients may also experience discomfort and pain in the neck, and upon examination, positive signs of meningeal irritation can be observed.

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Does meningitis cause headaches?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, tuberculosis bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., which can all cause meningitis. Common symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, etc., thus patients with meningitis do experience headaches. Moreover, headache is one of the most common symptoms in patients with meningitis. Often, patients suffering from headaches will experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting, which is frequently projectile, and in many cases, the headache can be alleviated after vomiting.

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Is meningitis scary?

Meningitis is a relatively common infectious disease of the central nervous system in clinical practice. The common types of meningitis seen clinically include viral meningitis, tuberculous meningitis, and purulent meningitis. The main clinical symptoms of meningitis include headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, and signs of meningeal irritation; some may present with focal neurological deficits in symptoms and signs. If meningitis is not treated promptly or the treatment is ineffective, it often leads to significant sequelae, and can even endanger the patient's life. Therefore, meningitis is considered a serious disease of the central nervous system. If diagnosed with meningitis, timely treatment is essential, underscoring the seriousness of the disease.

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How is meningitis transmitted?

Meningitis, a disease primarily transmitted through close contact, airborne droplets, and poor dietary habits, is mainly caused by bacterial infections leading to purulent meningitis in clinical settings. Some cases are due to tuberculosis bacillus causing tuberculous meningitis. Additionally, there are viral forms of meningitis, most commonly from enteroviruses or Echo viruses. A minority of patients may also develop cryptococcal meningitis. Treatment should involve the use of appropriate antimicrobial drugs based on clinical symptoms and the infecting pathogen, coupled with measures to decrease intracranial pressure and relieve brain edema, ensuring early detection and treatment to prevent complications.

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sequelae of meningitis

Firstly, it may cause meningitis adhesions leading to hydrocephalus. Once hydrocephalus occurs, it may leave cognitive impairments as sequela, such as slow response, memory decline, and reduced executive functions. Secondly, tuberculous meningitis might also damage cranial nerves, resulting in symptoms such as diplopia, difficulty swallowing with choking on water, and dysarthria. If it affects the facial nerve, peripheral facial paralysis and other sequelae might occur. Thirdly, it could also lead to arteritis. The occurrence of arteritis can cause arterial occlusion, leading to the formation of cerebral infarction.

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What are the symptoms of meningitis?

The symptoms of meningitis mainly include headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, epileptic seizures, and mental abnormalities. Severe cases may also present with disturbances in consciousness and signs of meningeal irritation, among others. Therefore, when a patient exhibits the above symptoms, the possibility of meningitis should be considered. The patient needs to promptly visit the neurology department to undergo a cranial CT scan, cranial MRI, electroencephalogram, and lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment should be based on the test results, selecting appropriate anti-infective medications. For example, patients with viral meningitis should be treated with antiviral medications such as acyclovir and ganciclovir; patients with bacterial meningitis should be treated with potent antibacterial drugs, including carbapenems and quinolones; patients with tuberculous meningitis should receive antitubercular drugs, such as isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol. In addition, patients may also need symptomatic treatments such as dehydration to reduce intracranial pressure, fever reduction, and control of psychiatric symptoms. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)