Menangitis

An inflammation of the meninges, the thin membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.  It is usually caused by viruses or bacteria infecting the subarachnoid space between the meninges which contains spinal fluid.  Viral memangitis is the most common form which often occurs in children and usually resolves itself within 7-10 days.  Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and body aches, preceeded by several days of nonspecific feverish illness with malaise and loss of appetite.  Treatment includes medication for pain and fever and fluids to prevent dehydration.  Bacterial meningitis is less common, but much more serious.  It can be life threatening if not treated promptly.  Symptoms of meningitis vary but usually include headache, fever, and stiff neck.  Other symptoms include sensitivity to light (photophobia), nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, body aches, and confusion.  Some patients also have weakness, loss of appetite, shaking chdills, profuse sweats, cranial nerve palsies (weakness of 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, and 7^th cranial nerves), and generalized seizures.  Half of patients have Kernig’s sign, in which extension of the knee with the hips flexed is met with strong passive resistance, and Brudzinski’s sign, in which passive flexion of the neck causes flexion of the leg.  It may lead to skin rashes, seizures, and loss of consciousness.  Babies and toddlers may lack some of the above signs.  They may be irritable, less active, vomit, and refuse to eat.  They may show increased irritability when picked up or rocked, rather than calming.   They may be jaundiced (yellow), have stiffness of the body and neck, a lower than normal temperature, weak suck and poor feeding, bulging fontanelles (membrane between the skull bones), and a high pitched cry.  Treatment for bacterial meningitis includes immediate hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics, as it is a medical emergency.