Meningitis in adults: Causes, symptoms and treatment

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Huynh An Thien, Neurologist, Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.
Meningitis is an infection of the meninges and can occur at any age, especially in young children. However, you should not be subjective with meningitis in adults, because if not detected and treated promptly, it can cause many dangerous complications such as: paralysis of limbs, epilepsy, deafness, etc. blindness, cerebral edema, coma, even death.

1. What is meningitis? Manifestations of meningitis in adults

The meninges are protective covering around the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis is an infection of the tissue layers around the brain and spinal cord and is usually caused by HI bacteria, pneumococcus, meningococcal or by viruses, parasites, or fungi.
Meningitis in adults, if not detected and treated promptly, can cause many dangerous complications. If you detect one of the following symptoms, you should immediately go to the nearest hospital or specialized medical facility for testing and prompt treatment:
Fever. Headache. Stiff neck. Fear of light. Nausea, vomiting. Some signs of brain dysfunction such as: lethargy, confusion, acute coma for a few hours to a few days or can last for weeks. Almost all symptoms appear unclear, seen in the elderly group, especially when there are comorbidities (diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease), patients with neutropenia, patients with impaired other immune systems such as organ transplant recipients and HIV/AIDS patients. However, in some other cases there may be other symptoms that we mentioned above. Therefore, you can consult a specialist at Vinmec hospital about the common symptoms of meningitis in adults.

2. Meningitis in adults caused by what?

2.1. Bacterial Meningitis Bacterial meningitis is one of the most dangerous forms of meningitis. In the United States, an average of 3,000-5,000 people get the disease each year.
About 20-25% of patients with bacterial meningitis die, despite prompt treatment. If bacterial meningitis progresses rapidly within 24 hours, the mortality rate can be up to 50%.
2.2. Viral Meningitis Viral meningitis in adults is difficult to detect because the symptoms are very similar to those of the flu.
2.3. Meningitis HI The third cause of meningitis in adults is Hemophilus influenzae type B (HI). The bacteria are found in the nose and throat, and are spread from person to person through sneezing, coughing, and salivary glands.
2.4. Meningococcal meningitis Meningococcal disease usually occurs all year round, but the time of diagnosis with the highest incidence is Spring - Summer.
Meningococcal meningitis is usually spread through the respiratory tract and through contact with infected hands and personal items of patients. And especially the mortality rate is quite high if not detected early and treated promptly. More serious can leave neurological sequelae.

2.5. Pneumococcal Meningitis Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. People at high risk of pneumococcal meningitis are alcoholics, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, sinusitis, otitis media, traumatic brain injury,...
The most obvious manifestation is high fever from 39-40 degrees continuously accompanied by headache, muscle and joint pain,... In case of sepsis, high fever fluctuates, cardiovascular collapse, low blood pressure, little urine, shock,...

3. Methods of prevention and treatment of meningitis in adults

Being aware of a scientific lifestyle will help you prevent or reduce the progression of meningitis in adults, such as:
Wash hands properly with soap before eating and after using the toilet. Eat cooked, drink boiled, limit soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk. If you notice any abnormality in your body, you should immediately go to a medical facility for examination and treatment. Get vaccinated against meningitis at an early age. Practice sports regularly. Do not drink alcohol or smoke. Should not come into contact with people with meningitis, need to be isolated and must be supervised by a doctor 24/24.

4. Diagnosis and treatment of meningitis in adults

Currently, the methods used by doctors to diagnose meningitis in adults include:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a method performed in the hospital room to collect cerebrospinal fluid for testing to determine the severity of the infection. importance of inflammation, pathogens and microbial susceptibility to medicinal products. Blood test: This is needed to assess the extent of the infection. In some cases, a blood culture may be necessary to identify the causative agent. Physical examination - imaging (CT, MRI): This is one of the modern diagnostic methods used to diagnose complications of meningitis affecting the brain. If the patient has meningitis, the patient needs to be hospitalized and treated with antibiotics, high doses intravenously according to the regimen (for bacterial meningitis).
Depending on the type of meningitis, there are different treatment directions. It is best to consult a doctor, if you find that your body is abnormal, you should immediately go to the hospital for testing.

At Vinmec with full equipment and modern machinery, gathering a team of highly qualified doctors and nurses with many years of experience will be a reliable address for every home, minimizing the risk of inflammatory diseases. meninges in adults.

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