I thought it was a summer cold, meningitis?It could be life-threatening
Jul 28, 2024
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Meningitis is the most common form of viral meningitis, among which enterovirus, the cause of hand-foot-and-mouth virus, accounts for 90%. Various viruses, such as coxsaki virus and eco-virus, can be the cause, and complications can occur in rare cases, although most people with normal immunity naturally heal within a week or two.
Bacterial meningitis is the most severe form and is caused by bacterial infections such as pneumococcus, meningococcus, and E. coli. The risk of complications is high, and rapid antibiotic treatment is required, and treatment is required for more than 10 to 14 days. The diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is often delayed because the symptoms are nonspecific and can have fatal consequences. Fungal meningitis appears primarily in immunocompromised patients.
Because the meninges surround the brain and spinal cord, failure to treat them in time in the event of meningitis can cause serious aftereffects, such as permanent damage to the brain. Children can have sensory nerve hearing loss, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and brain abscesses due to neurological damage, and central nervous system complications such as cerebrovascular disease, swelling of the brain, and intracerebral hemorrhage in adults.
Similar symptoms of meningitis occur even when the cause is different, so relying on the judgment of yourself or your guardian can increase the risk. For accurate diagnosis, the causative bacteria and viruses can be identified through cerebrospinal fluid tests, and brain CT, MRI, blood culture, serological examinations, and brain biopsy can be performed. Based on this, symptomatic treatment and accurate treatment suitable for the cause are performed.
Professor Byun Jung-hye of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents at Korea University Anam Hospital said, `Meningitis requires quick discrimination because appropriate treatment for the cause is important"Meningitis is a life-threatening disease depending on the cause, so it is recommended to consult a specialist immediately if suspected symptoms are found.'
Bacterial meningitis has a preventive vaccine, but it may be difficult to distinguish it from more serious encephalitis symptoms in the early stages as the number of rare causes increases as overseas travel becomes more frequent. Therefore, in order to effectively prevent meningitis, the prevention effect can be expected through strengthening personal hygiene, including hand washing, in addition to vaccines and other infectious diseases. In particular, special attention should be paid to hygiene before and after playing in the water in the summer and avoiding contaminated water in places where many people gather.
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