The contraction of spinal meningitis is considered a medical emergency for two reasons :
- It has a high mortality rate if gone untreated,
- The symptoms are extremely painful and can lead to secondary defects that can be life threatening.
Meningitis is characterized by the inflammation of the membranes that cover both the brain and the spinal cord. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are the most common causes, though there have been reports of chemically induced meningitis. The symptoms of spinal meningitis include high fever (over 100 degrees), severe headaches, dementia and stiffness of the neck.
At first, spinal meningitis might feel like the flu. Fever, chills and lethargy are common initial symptoms, and if a patient feels that he or she only has a common cold or the flu, treatment might not be sought immediately. A stiff neck and photophobia should soon follow, however, and these are classic symptoms of spinal meningitis.
The possibility of spinal meningitis is taken very seriously, and a physician will first order a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) so that he can microscopically examine cerebrospinal fluid for a complete blood count with differential. He will also perform a chemical analysis and bacterial cultures.
Because spinal meningitis affects the brain as well as the spinal cord, neurological defects are common. If there is any sign of intracranial pressure, the physician will order a CT scan of the cranium to try and locate any points of brain herniation or brain damage.
In all cases of spinal meningitis, the patient must be hospitalized for close observation and to administer medication. For bacterial meningitis, antibiotics will be given orally at first, and then delivered intraveinously until the worst of the symptoms pass. Antibiotics will be given even more regularly if there is a possibility of intracranial pressure from the swelling of tissues.
By Kevin Brzenk
The above information thankfully comes from the associatedcontent.com at the following link.
