Sunday, May 26, 2013

Facts To Help You Identify The Early Signs And Symptoms Of Meningitis

By Kathryn Neal


The signs and symptoms of meningitis can be very hard to spot. In most cases, people confuse the danger signs of the disease with common flu. It remains crucial to familiarize yourself with the sure indicators of an ailment. This information could help you save a life. Since there is viral and bacterial meningitis, you should be conversant with the fine facts of both conditions.

Meningitis causes the membrane covering of the brain as well as the spinal cord to become inflamed. This membrane is called meninges. The indicators of bacterial meningitis normally show within days or a few hours. The viral condition develops rapidly over several days. Medical practitioners are trained to take tests that can help you differentiate the type of illness you have. The symptoms of both conditions are also different.

Meningitis is a serious illness that can result in the death of a patient. You must seek the services of a specialist immediately you develop suspicions. Early treatment saves lives and complete recovery in young children. The signs as well as the symptoms of this condition do not present themselves in any pattern or at the same time.

The bacterial version of this ailment can cause death easily. This may be due to the fact that warning indicators show abruptly and rapidly worsen. You should call for an ambulance the moment you have any suspicions. Normally, the signs of this ailment will show before the symptoms do. They may include fever, blotchy or pale skin, blue lips, cold hands and feet, shivering and painful muscles, joints and limbs.

After a patient shows the signs of illness, the following symptoms may be experienced after a short while. They include nausea, vomiting, severe headache and a general feeling of being unwell. Any temperature above 38 degrees Celsius should be considered as a fever in children and adults.

When the ailment worsens, patients experience drowsiness, photophobia, stiffness of the neck, confusion and seizures. Photophobia and neck stiffness is commonly not experienced by children. Other warning signs include fast breathing and spotted red rashes. When an infant is infected it becomes irritant, becomes unresponsive and makes jerky movements. The young child may refuse to feed, vomit, sleep during most times of day and night and maintain an expressionless stare.

The symptoms of viral meningitis by a great percentage similar to those of common flu. A patient could get a general sick feeling, and experience headaches and fever. In a later development of the disease neck stiffness, photophobia, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and pains in muscles, joints and limbs could be experienced.

The signs and symptoms of meningitis could differ subject to the phase of this ailment. The bacterial type of this disease is very dangerous because it causes septicaemia. This is also known as blood poisoning. It is best to do a bit of research in order to know all the facts about the disease. You should not consider the ailment to be genetic. It is also not waterborne or airborne and is contagious.




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