Meningitis is a potentially fatal disorder, no matter how old the patient is who is suffering from the illness. It is a condition during which the membrane surrounding the spinal cord and brain and cerebrospinal fluid become highly inflamed. Emergency assistance must be pursued at once by those suffering from this disease or complications such as death or life-threatening situations may occur. There are many signs and symptoms of meningitis, and certain ones are very similar to those of other diseases or disorders.
Various aspects affect the survival rate of those afflicted with this disease. For instance, infants suffering from the condition have a much higher mortality rate than adults who contract the illness. Additional factors that increase the death rate in both grown-ups and youngsters include how low the individual's white blood cell count plummets during the course of the disease and how severe the inflammation is before it is treated.
Certain viral and bacterial strains are responsible for this disorder. However, fungal and parasitic infections also cause rarer forms of the condition. In addition, there is a noninfectious type of the disorder that is referred to as aseptic meningitis. With the latter, the inflammatory symptoms associated with the condition are present, but doctors cannot typically identify a localized infection.
The severity of one's symptoms depend on a variety of factors. These include the patient's age, his or her overall health, and the presence of any underlying infections that are in his or her system in addition to the meningitis itself. In most cases, the first symptom experienced by adults suffering from the disorder is a severe headache. In many instances, this is initially misdiagnosed as a cluster headache or the onset of a migraine.
In most cases, those suffering from the disorder experience a stiff neck and a high fever. Additionally, bright light usually irritates patients, particularly those over the age of twenty-one. Intolerance to noise is sometimes a symptom as well, and mental fogginess or other cognitive changes may also occur as the disease progresses.
Youngsters do not always exhibit as obvious of symptoms as adults. Children may experience cold intolerance, excitability, leg pain, and extreme drowsiness. Infants who have the condition may have a bulging fontanelle, the latter of which is the word used to describe the area in the back of the baby's head that is somewhat soft. Children may also experience a rash called petechiae, which is similar in appearance to chickenpox. It can appear on the feet, hands, mucous membranes, or other areas, but it is most often seen in the torso.
Adults may develop petechiae when suffering from meningitis, but such a rash is more common with children. Patients may also experience muscle rigidity, and this can occur in both adults and children. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, abnormal muscle tightening or flexing may be present as well.
The condition can result in permanent disabilities such as behavioral problems, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, decreased intelligence and hearing loss. The risk for such complications is higher in children than adults. However, patients of all ages can become disabled after such an illness. For this reason, medical treatment should be sought as soon as the signs and symptoms of meningitis occur.
Various aspects affect the survival rate of those afflicted with this disease. For instance, infants suffering from the condition have a much higher mortality rate than adults who contract the illness. Additional factors that increase the death rate in both grown-ups and youngsters include how low the individual's white blood cell count plummets during the course of the disease and how severe the inflammation is before it is treated.
Certain viral and bacterial strains are responsible for this disorder. However, fungal and parasitic infections also cause rarer forms of the condition. In addition, there is a noninfectious type of the disorder that is referred to as aseptic meningitis. With the latter, the inflammatory symptoms associated with the condition are present, but doctors cannot typically identify a localized infection.
The severity of one's symptoms depend on a variety of factors. These include the patient's age, his or her overall health, and the presence of any underlying infections that are in his or her system in addition to the meningitis itself. In most cases, the first symptom experienced by adults suffering from the disorder is a severe headache. In many instances, this is initially misdiagnosed as a cluster headache or the onset of a migraine.
In most cases, those suffering from the disorder experience a stiff neck and a high fever. Additionally, bright light usually irritates patients, particularly those over the age of twenty-one. Intolerance to noise is sometimes a symptom as well, and mental fogginess or other cognitive changes may also occur as the disease progresses.
Youngsters do not always exhibit as obvious of symptoms as adults. Children may experience cold intolerance, excitability, leg pain, and extreme drowsiness. Infants who have the condition may have a bulging fontanelle, the latter of which is the word used to describe the area in the back of the baby's head that is somewhat soft. Children may also experience a rash called petechiae, which is similar in appearance to chickenpox. It can appear on the feet, hands, mucous membranes, or other areas, but it is most often seen in the torso.
Adults may develop petechiae when suffering from meningitis, but such a rash is more common with children. Patients may also experience muscle rigidity, and this can occur in both adults and children. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, abnormal muscle tightening or flexing may be present as well.
The condition can result in permanent disabilities such as behavioral problems, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, decreased intelligence and hearing loss. The risk for such complications is higher in children than adults. However, patients of all ages can become disabled after such an illness. For this reason, medical treatment should be sought as soon as the signs and symptoms of meningitis occur.
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