Meningitis in Children

DEFINITION

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain (meninges).

CAUSE

Meningitis in infants and children most often caused by bacteria and viruses. However, bacterial meningitis caused by a more serious nature. Meningitis caused by a virus is quite common, but usually not too heavy, except in certain cases are rare. In addition, it is often due to viral meningitis undiagnosed because the symptoms appear similar to the symptoms of flu in general.

Meningitis in newborns is usually caused by an infection in the blood (sepsis). These infections are usually caused by bacteria obtained from the birth canal, which most often is the group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Older infants and children usually get the infection through contact with respiratory secretions of an infected person. Bacteria usually cause is Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis.

The bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type B is the most common cause cause meningitis, but because vaccination has done much to prevent bacterial infection, then the case was rare.

SYMPTOMS

Children who are bigger and teenagers who suffered meningitis typically will experience higher fever, headache, and stiffness in the neck. They may experience upper respiratory tract infection, which is not associated with meningitis.

Babies rarely experienced stiffness in the neck and they also have not been able to say that there is something that feels uncomfortable. Babies will usually be fussy (especially when they are appointed) and would not eat. Sometimes, the baby will have a fever, vomiting, or rash on the skin. Around a third of babies have seizures.

Can damage the nerves that control eye movement and the face so that the affected eye may appear leads to the inner and outer or face twisted to one side.

In about 25% of cases of meningitis in newborns, the crown of the baby seemed to stand or palpable hard because of the increased pressure of the fluid around the brain.

These symptoms usually occur within 1-2 days, but in some babies, especially those aged between 0-3 or 4 months, may experience symptoms very quickly. The change from healthy to near death can occur in less than 24 hours.

In rare cases, can form abscesses (pockets of pus) in the brain of infants exposed to certain bacterial meningitis. If symptoms worsen, the possibility of an abscess has burst and draining the pus in the cavity surrounding the brain so that the infection is spreading.

PROGNOSIS

Although it has been given treatment, approximately 30% of the infants died. If there is an abscess, the death rate could be nearly 75%.

Approximately 20-50% of infants who survive can suffer brain damage and neurological (eg, hydrocephalus, deafness and mental retardation).

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis is based on symptoms, physical examination and the results of examination of spinal fluid obtained by lumbar puncture.

Blood cultures may be done to look for the presence of bacteria in the blood. Pemerikaan ultrasound or CT scan may be done to determine if there is an abscess.

TREATMENT

Handling is done depends on the cause. At meningitis caused by bacteria, antibiotics do as soon as possible after the baby or child suspected of having meningitis. After cerebrospinal fluid culture results are available, the antibiotics are then adjusted by the bacteria cause.

However, antibiotics can not treat meningitis caused by a virus. Most cases of meningitis because the virus can improve on their own within a few weeks.

PREVENTION

Has no specific vaccines that can be given to protect and reduce the possibility of meningitis caused by bacteria or viruses. Vaccines to prevent bacterial meningitis include Hib vaccine (Haemophilus influenzae type B) and a vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Anti-viral vaccines to prevent viral meningitis include influenza vaccine, chickenpox (varicella), polio, measles, and mumps.

REFERENCE

- D, Charles P. Meningitis in Children. eMedicine Health. 2012.

- G, Nicole A. Meningitis. Kids Health. 2013.

- Mayo Clinic. Meningitis. 2013.

- W, Geoffery A. Meningitis in Children. Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. 2006