Syracuse Parent and CNY Family

Dr. Monica Jones is a pediatrician with Syracuse Pediatrics. Reach her at www.syracusepediatrics.com. To send a health-related question to the doctor, write to editor@syracuseparent.net

Meningitis, when treated properly, not fatal
Posted on Sat, April 5th, 2008
Written by: Monica Jones, MD, Pediatrician/Syracuse Pediatrics
email: editor@syracuseparent.net

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about meningitis following the death of a college student locally as well as a few other scattered cases. Most people hear the word meningitis and they panic. They think it means instant death. Realistically however while meningitis can make kids very sick, most people do not die from it if treated properly.

So what is it? The meninges are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. When they become inflamed, due to infection, it is called meningitis. There are two types of meningitis—bacterial and viral. Most folks immediately think of the more serious and sometimes fatal form—that is the bacterial type of meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is actually rare in today’s world, partially due to vaccines.

More common is the viral form, also called aseptic meningitis. This type is much less serious and rarely requires hospitalization.

The viruses and bacteria that cause meningitis typically are the same ones that cause simple illnesses like colds, skin, urinary tract and ear infections, etc. In some situations, however, they can travel through the bloodstream to the meninges and settle there.

Many different types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis and it varies with age. In newborns, the most common causes are Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. In older kids, Haemophilus influenza type B, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) are more often the causes. As you will read later, many of these are the focus of current immunizations.

Similarly, there are many different viruses that can lead to viral meningitis, including enteroviruses (such as coxsackievirus, poliovirus, and hepatitis A) and the herpes virus.

Catching meningitis is not that simple. It is spread from person to person during close, not casual, contact for an extended period of time. Sneezing, coughing, breathing on each other are some ways of spreading the bacteria. Just being in the same room is not a danger. Children who live in close quarters such as college students are at a higher risk for infection.

The next part is that just because you get the bacteria or virus, doesn’t mean you will actually get meningitis. It is more likely to just give you the skin, urinary tract or ear infection that it began with in the other person.

While the risks are in fact low, it is important to know the symptoms of meningitis because the earlier it is treated the less likely it is to be fatal. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, fatigue, irritability, lethargy, photophobia (really bothered by light) and sometimes a rash. In babies, you might not see these symptoms. They are usually just very irritable, lethargic, with or without fever and just very difficult to console. Their soft spot may feel like it’s bulging out.

Viral meningitis usually gives you more flu-like symptoms including fever, runny nose, achy and often goes undiagnosed. Viral meningitis usually resolved itself in about 1 week without complication.

If you suspect your child has meningitis, call your physician immediately. Bacterial meningitis requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. It is diagnosed by getting samples of the fluid around your brain and spinal cord, called CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) by doing a spinal tap. That fluid is then sent to the lab to be culture for bacteria and viruses. If your doctor suspects meningitis your child will be admitted and treated immediately.

While most children will survive meningitis infections, there can be serious complications despite. These include hearing loss, learning disabilities and other neurological problems.

There are things you can do, however, to prevent this. Vaccinate your children. We now have vaccines against some of the more common bacterial causes of meningitis including pneumococcus, haemophilus influenza type B, and meningococcal. The first two are given to infants and the last is one of the new rounds of vaccines given to 11-year-olds in middle school.

Remember, immunize your children and teach them good hand washing and you can help keep them safe. Happy Spring!

Dr. Monica Jones is a pediatrician with Syracuse Pediatrics. Reach her at www.syracusepediatrics.com. To send a health-related question to the doctor, write to editor@syracuseparent.net