All about Meningitis and treatment - Rajahmundry

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective layers surrounding your brain and spinal cord (meninges). Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and non-infectious conditions can cause meningitis. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity. If you think you have meningitis, go to the ER immediately.

Types of meningitis are typically named for the cause or for how long you’ve had symptoms. They include:

Bacterial meningitis.
Viral meningitis.
Fungal meningitis.
Parasitic meningitis. Meningitis caused by certain parasites is called eosinophilic meningitis or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis (EM).
Primary Amebic Meningitis (PAM). Meningitis can be caused by the ameba Naegleria fowleri.
Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM). Rarely, certain medications cause drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM)
Chronic meningitis. When meningitis has lasted a month or more, it’s called chronic meningitis.
Acute meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is often acute, meaning that symptoms are severe and come on suddenly.
Symptoms of meningitis in children and adults
Neck stiffness.
Nausea or vomiting.
Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Confusion or altered mental state.
Lack of energy (lethargy), extreme sleepiness or trouble waking up.
Lack of appetite.
Small round spots that look like a rash (petechiae).
Meningitis treatment depends on the cause. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial meningitis and antifungals are used to treat fungal meningitis. Antivirals can be used to treat some viral causes of meningitis. Non-infectious causes of meningitis are treated by addressing the underlying illness or injury.

There are no specific treatments for other infectious causes of meningitis. Medications might be used to reduce inflammation or relieve your symptoms.

For more information consult our expert Dr G Geetasravan