Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Harim Mohsin
02-13
Definition
Meningitis is the inflammation of the
membranes surrounding the brain & spinal
cord, including the dura, arachinoid & pia
matter.
Incidence
Meningitis can occur at all ages but it is
commonest in infancy. While 95% of the
cases take place between 1 month- 5
years of age.
Flu-like symptoms
fever
lethargy
Altered consciousness
irritability
headache
photophobia
stiff neck
Brudzinski sign
Kernig sign
skin rashes
seizures
Signs & symptoms
Other symptoms of meningitis in Neonates/infants
can include:
Apnea
jaundice
neck rigidity
Abnormal temperature (hypo/hyperthermia)
poor feeding /weak sucking
a high-pitched cry
bulging fontanelles
Poor reflexes
Types
Bacterial
Viral (aseptic)
Fungal
Parasitic
Non-infectious
Pyogenic Meningitis
ETIOLOGY
‘Meningococcal’ meningitis- N. meningitidis. A, B, C and W135)
are recognized to cause epidemics
Risk factors:
Infective illness in mother
PROM
Difficult delivery
Premature babies
Spina bifida
D/D:
Tuberculous Meningitis
Viral /aseptic Meningitis
Brain Abscess
Brain tumor
Cerebral malaria
Viral meningitis
Viral meningitis comprises most aseptic
meningitis syndromes. The viral agents for
aseptic meningitis include the following:
Immune globulin
Levamisole
Metronidazole
Fundus: papilloedema
Hemiparesis.
Antibiotics IV.
Duration:1-3 weeks depending on age & type of
organisms.
Treatment
Probable/Proved
Penicillins
Meningococci
2-5 lac units /kg/day
Treatment
Probable Ampicillin +
H.Influenzae chloramphenicol or
3rd generation
cephalosporin
(cefotaxime
200mg/kg/day)
Probable E.Coli
Ampicillin +
gentamycin
200mg/kg+2.5-4 mg/kg
IV 12hrly
Treatment
Probable group B Penicillin
streptococci 50,000i.u/kgI.V/4
hourly.
Other Drugs available
Anti-microbials Anti-Virals
Ceftriaxone Acyclovir
Cefotaxime Ganciclovir (>3mths)
Penicillin G
Vancomycin Anti-fungals
Ampicillin Amphotericin B
Gentamicin Fluconazole
Prevention
The vaccines against Hib, measles, mumps, polio,
meningococcus, and pneumococcus can protect against
meningitis