Tuberculous meningitis

Tuberculosis meningitis is a serious disease, but if it is detected in the early stages, there is a good chance of a complete cure. With meningitis, the membranes of the spinal cord and brain become inflamed. Among the sick, a high percentage of children, especially at an early age.

Tuberculous meningitis usually develops gradually. The child quickly becomes tired, loses all interest in the game, becomes very sluggish, irritable, wants to sleep. There are headaches. After a few days, the temperature rises (to 39 degrees), but it can stay in normal state. The head starts to hurt, the vomiting opens. Pulse becomes less frequent, vegetative disorders are observed. The tendon reflexes, including the clonus of the feet, increase. Constipation may occur. There are so-called "Trusso spots" (manifestation of vasomotor disorders in the form of red spots). Hyperesthesia begins, and the headache becomes even stronger. There comes a paresis of the nerves of the skull: the eyelids are wide open, the blinking is rare, the look is motionless; The pupils are wide (they respond lightly to the light, the eyes are squinted (strabismus), the belly is sharply drawn, the pulse is rare.

Then the paralysis begins, the consciousness disappears. There may be seizures and respiratory failure. The child lies on his side, throwing his head back. This is a characteristic position for this disease, called the meningale posture. The cause of this situation is reflex jerky muscle contraction. The numb taut occipital muscles throw their heads back. If you try to turn your head in a normal position and tilt your chin to your chest, the patient begins to have severe headaches.

Tuberculous meningitis in small children (up to three years) is somewhat different. The beginning is usually acute (rather than sluggishly current), the child is not drowsy, but, on the contrary, restless. The periods of the disease (their duration) are shorter than in older children, the meningenal symptoms are not as pronounced, but severe conditions are more frequent.

Meningitis. Causes

The disease causes Neisseria meningitis - meningococci, hemophilus (Hib), E. coli, streptococcal bacteria, viruses, tuberculosis microbacteria. The carrier, coughing or sneezing, is able to infect immediately those who are next to him. In other words, the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Possible infection through a kiss, common household items. The causes of meningitis can come from feces excrement, from insect bites. You can get infected by drinking contaminated water or eating poorly processed or washed foods. There were recorded cases of infection of the child during childbirth. A pregnant woman can infect a child, even if she does not have any signs of illness. The child is especially vulnerable during cesarean section: in this way both the bacterium and the viruses can penetrate freely.

Suspicion of tuberculous meningitis - what to do?

If any of these symptoms occur, contact your doctor immediately. Tuberculosis meningitis develops rapidly, especially in the latter stages. Here the account is already on the clock. It urgently needs medical help. Self-medication is unacceptable. The patient needs to be hospitalized, to conduct a detailed examination, to take a puncture. When the diagnosis is confirmed, a complex treatment with antibiotics is prescribed. Recovery depends on the stage at which the treatment is started and, as a rule, ends in recovery, although complications are possible (usually with hearing).

If treatment is not prescribed, the patient dies in 3-4 weeks. The duration of treatment in a hospital is about six months, and the total duration is up to one and a half years. According to statistics, 95% of the sick recover. However, with a late diagnosis (after the 18th day), the outlook is disappointing.

Among the preventive measures, first of all, vaccination. Do not contact the patient (or limit contact if possible). After contact with the sick, wash your hands with disinfectants.