Contents:
- Medical Video: What are symptoms of meningitis? What is meningococcal septicaemia? And how does it cause symptoms?
- Meningitis symptoms that need to be watched out
- Symptoms of meningitis in infants
- Possible complications due to meningitis
- Who is susceptible to meningitis?
Medical Video: What are symptoms of meningitis? What is meningococcal septicaemia? And how does it cause symptoms?
Meningitis is inflammation that attacks the membranes (meninges) around the brain and spinal cord. This disease, also known as inflammation of the lining of the brain, is usually caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infections. In general, meningitis can be cured within a few weeks. However, in certain cases meningitis can cause death. Therefore you need to ascertain the symptoms of meningitis and see a doctor as soon as possible.
Meningitis symptoms that need to be watched out
If you experience some of the symptoms of meningitis mentioned below, immediately contact your doctor or nearest health care center.
- Great headaches that don't go away
- Neck stiffness and pain until you have difficulty touching your chin to your chest
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue, weakness, and lack of energy
- So it's more sensitive to dazzling light
- Loss of appetite
- Joint and muscle pain
- Feet and hands feel cold
- A rash appears on the skin
- Breathless
- Lost consciousness (fainting)
- Abdominal cramps if a virus or bacteria has infected the blood
- In serious cases, meningitis can be indicated by symptoms of seizures or coma
Symptoms of meningitis in infants
Be careful if you have a baby or small child. Because, meningitis does not only attack adults. Newborns can also get inflammation of the lining of the brain. Note if your baby shows the following symptoms of meningitis.
- High fever
- Fussy and don't stop crying
- Sleep continuously or it's hard to wake up
- Limp, lethargic, and seemingly immobile
- Difficulty eating or drinking milk
- Lumps appear on the baby's head
- Baby's body and neck are stiff
Possible complications due to meningitis
If symptoms of meningitis are ignored, especially in infants and young children, the possibility of complications increases. Here are some risky complications for meningitis.
- Hearing loss
- Learning disorders
- Seizures
- Brain damage
- Shock (blood circulation disorders)
- Kidney failure
- Dead
Who is susceptible to meningitis?
Anyone can get this disease. However, there are indeed some groups who are more susceptible to experiencing symptoms of meningitis. Among them are people or children who have never been vaccinated against meningitis, pregnant women, people or children with weak immune systems, diabetics, and people who have just undergone surgery or a spinal cord transplant. These conditions can increase your risk of getting infected with various viruses, bacteria, and fungi that cause meningitis.
