Meningitis: what it is, types, symptoms, transmission and treatment

Meningitis is the serious inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes that cover the brain and the entire spinal cord and which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi.

Due to inflammation of the meninges, it is common to have a stiff neck, making it difficult to move your chin to your chest, as well as fever, nausea and intense headache.

It is important that meningitis is identified as soon as the first symptoms appear, as this means that treatment can be started quickly to prevent the development of injuries that could result in permanent sequelae or even death.

Types of meningitis

The main types of meningitis are:

1. Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is a type of meningitis caused by a virus that tends to be more common in the summer and in people over 15 years of age. The main viruses associated with viral meningitis are enteroviruses, such as Coxsackie and poliovirus, the Epstein-Barr virus and the herpes virus, the infection caused by this virus being called herpetic meningitis.

Furthermore, in the case of herpetic meningitis, the virus is capable of causing inflammation in various regions of the brain, this condition being called meningoencephalitis. Learn more about viral meningitis.

2. Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is more serious than viral meningitis and corresponds to inflammation of the meninges caused by bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis e Haemophilus influenzae.

Bacterial meningitis caused by bacteria Neisseria meningitidis It is called meningococcal meningitis and, although rare, it occurs more frequently in children and the elderly, especially when there are conditions that reduce the immune system. See more details about bacterial meningitis.

3. Fungal meningitis

Fungal meningitis is more common in people with a more compromised immune system due to age or chronic illness, and is often associated with the fungus. Cryptococcus sp. It is Coccidioides sp. In some cases, it may also be a consequence of infection by Candida sp. or Aspergillus sp.

4. Eosinophilic meningitis

Eosinophilic meningitis is a rare type of meningitis caused by infection with the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which infect slugs, snails and snails. People become infected when consuming the meat of animals contaminated with the parasite or food contaminated with secretions from these animals, resulting in the appearance of symptoms such as severe headache, nausea, vomiting and stiff neck. Learn about other symptoms of eosinophilic meningitis.

5. Aseptic meningitis

Although inflammation of the meninges is more common to occur due to infections, it can also have non-infectious causes, and is therefore called aseptic meningitis. The main situations that increase the chance of aseptic meningitis are strong blows, some drugs and even some types of chronic diseases, such as lupus or cancer.

Main symptoms

In general, the main symptoms indicative of meningitis are:

• Fever above 38ºC;
• Very intense headache;
• Stiffness in the neck, with difficulty placing the chin on the chest;
• Red spots on the body;
• Hypersensitivity to light;
• Excessive drowsiness with difficulty waking up;
• Confusion;
• Seizures.

In babies and children, other symptoms may also appear that lead parents to suspect possible meningitis, such as loud crying, easy irritability, difficulty moving the head and even a more tense fontanelle, appearing slightly bulging. Check out other signs and symptoms indicative of meningitis.

See more about meningitis in the following video:

Online symptom test

To find out the chances of having meningitis, please select the symptoms you present:

This test is a tool that serves as a means of guidance only. Therefore, it is not intended to provide a diagnosis or replace consultation with an infectious disease specialist, neurologist or general practitioner.

How the diagnosis is made

The diagnosis of meningitis is made by a neurologist, infectious disease specialist or general practitioner by evaluating the signs and symptoms presented by the person, and a physical examination may be carried out, in which the neck is mobilized to check whether the person feels pain or discomfort.

If you want to make an appointment, you can find the neurologist closest to you using the tool below:

In addition, urine and blood tests and imaging tests, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, may be indicated when there is a suspicion of brain damage or sequelae left by meningitis.

However, the gold standard for diagnosing meningitis is the culture of cerebrospinal fluid, also called cerebrospinal fluid or CSF, which consists of taking a sample of the CSF through a lumbar puncture, which is then sent to the laboratory to be duly assessed.

When the disease is confirmed, the patient must remain hospitalized for a few days so that treatment can begin, based on antibiotics in the case of bacterial meningitis or medications to reduce fever and reduce discomfort in the case of viral meningitis.

Meningitis transmission

The transmission of meningitis can vary greatly, depending on the type of microorganism that is causing the inflammation. In the case of viral meningitis, the risk of transmission is very low because, although the virus can pass to another person, it generally does not cause meningitis, but rather another disease, such as mumps or measles, for example, depending on the type of virus.

In the case of meningitis caused by bacteria, this transmission is easier and can happen through sharing the same plate of food or through droplets of saliva, which can pass through coughing, sneezing, kissing or talking, for example. Furthermore, when an infected person uses the bathroom and does not wash their hands properly, they can also spread the bacteria.

Although the transmission of the agent responsible for meningitis is easy, in some cases, not all people who acquire the infectious agent develop meningitis or another disease, as it also depends on the person’s immune system and whether they have been vaccinated or not.

How to protect yourself

The best type of prevention against meningitis is vaccination, which protects against the main microorganisms that can cause the disease. Therefore, even if you come into contact with the viruses or bacteria that generally cause meningitis, the risk of developing the disease is very low. Find out more about the meningitis vaccine.

Additionally, some measures that also help reduce the risk of getting meningitis include:

• Avoid close contact with sick people;
• Wash your hands after being in public places;
• Avoid smoking.

People with meningitis also take some precautions to avoid spreading the disease, such as washing their hands frequently, avoiding going to public places and covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, for example.

How the treatment is carried out

Treatment for meningitis should be started as soon as possible after the first symptoms appear. Generally, treatment for meningitis depends on the type of microorganism that caused the disease and, therefore, must be started in the hospital after identifying the responsible agent through diagnostic tests.

Thus, in the case of bacterial meningitis, the use of antibiotics such as Penicillin may be recommended, while in the case of viral meningitis, the use of antivirals may be recommended in more serious cases. In the case of eosinophilic and fungal meningitis, the use of antimicrobials (antibiotics, antiparasitics or antifungals) may be indicated according to the person’s general health status, as these types of meningitis are more common in people who have an immune system. more weakened.

Additionally, the doctor may recommend the use of analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications to promote symptom relief and quality of life. It is important that the person being treated for meningitis is regularly monitored by the doctor by carrying out tests and evaluating the symptoms presented, as this will make it possible to check whether the treatment is proceeding as planned or whether any changes need to be made.

Meningitis sequelae

The consequences of meningitis can occur when the disease is not identified at the beginning, when treatment is not carried out or is not carried out according to medical advice, or when the person’s immune system is very weakened. The most common sequelae of meningitis are:

• Partial or total hearing and vision loss;
• Epilepsy;
• Memory and concentration problems;
• Learning difficulties, both in children and adults;
• Delay in motor development, with difficulties walking and balancing;
• Paralysis on one side of the body or both;
• Arthritis and bone problems;
• Kidney problems;
• Difficulty sleeping;
• Urinary incontinence.

Although there are sequelae, this does not mean that everyone will develop them. People who are cured may have no sequelae or only mild sequelae.