What is meningitis?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Meningitis is predominantly an inflammation that occurs in the meninges and can extend to the brain parenchyma. It is generally caused by pathogenic microorganisms, including common pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, tuberculosis bacteria, etc. The most common symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, etc. More severe cases can present with convulsions, disturbances of consciousness, or even coma. The condition can be mild or severe, and if not treated promptly, it can be fatal in serious cases.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is meningitis severe?

Meningitis is an infectious inflammation that occurs in the meninges and the brain and spinal meninges, and some may also involve the brain parenchyma. Meningitis is generally a serious disease, and if not treated promptly, it can develop into cerebral edema and severe cases may lead to brain herniation, respiratory and circulatory failure, endangering life. Some patients may even experience a decline in intelligence, paralysis, and other sequelae after recovery, severely affecting the quality of life. Therefore, it is important to actively treat meningitis once contracted.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to test for meningitis?

Meningitis is a very common disease in neurology, and the most common causes are infections, including viral infections, common bacterial infections, tuberculosis infections, and fungal infections. The main methods of examination for meningitis are as follows: First, physical examination. A physical examination can reveal neck stiffness in the patient, and positive meningeal irritation signs. These examinations are non-invasive and very safe. Second, a lumbar puncture can also be performed. A lumbar puncture can be used to observe whether the fluid pressure is high, and also to collect cerebrospinal fluid to examine its color, perform cytological and biochemical analyses, and culture the cerebrospinal fluid. This is very important to definitively determine the presence of meningitis and to identify the type of infectious agent involved. Additionally, enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can also be performed to see if there is significant enhancement of the meninges.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is meningitis scary?

Is meningitis a frightening disease? Meningitis can be very frightening if the condition progresses quickly, or if it is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Many patients often suffer from after-effects following recovery, such as decreased intelligence, dementia, aphasia, paralysis, etc., significantly impacting the quality of life. Therefore, meningitis is a quite frightening disease, and patients should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment to save lives and minimize or reduce the occurrence of after-effects.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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How is meningitis treated?

The treatment of meningitis is comprehensive. Firstly, medication should be based on the cause of the disease. For example, if it is caused by bacteria, sensitive antibiotics should be chosen for treatment; if caused by tuberculosis bacilli, standard anti-tuberculosis treatment should be applied; if caused by fungi, appropriate antifungal drugs should be used, and so forth. Additionally, symptomatic treatment is necessary, such as timely decompression treatment for increased intracranial pressure; fever reduction, especially for patients with high fever; and controlling seizures in patients with anticonvulsants. Moreover, it is important to maintain nutritional and electrolyte balance and ensure that the respiratory tract remains clear, among other things. If there are complications, they should be actively treated. (Specific medications should be administered under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Meningitis examination methods

The examination methods for meningitis mainly include several types. The first is the lumbar puncture examination, which is a very important diagnostic tool. Through lumbar puncture, one can observe the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, its color, and perform laboratory tests on the CSF to examine biochemical properties and cell count changes. Additionally, it is possible to culture pathogens from the cerebrospinal fluid, which is of great auxiliary value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of meningitis. Secondly, patients with meningitis also need to undergo physical examinations. If signs of meningeal irritation are found during the physical examination, it also indicates meningitis. Thirdly, patients may need to undergo enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain. If the meningitis lesions are severe, meningeal enhancement can be seen.