Meninges are membranes that cover or envelope the brain and the spinal cord. There are three meninges—dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater. The meninges protect the central nervous system. When bacteria affect these membranes, the condition is then called meningitis. Meningitis is of three types—bacterial, fungal, and viral. Bacterial meningitis is life-threatening and can also spread among people when they come in close contact with each other. Viral meningitis, however, is not as dangerous as bacterial meningitis and can be recovered without treatment. Fungal meningitis, on the other hand, is one of the rare forms of meningitis that occurs in those who have a weak immune system.
Some of the causes of meningitis are:
– Syphilis
– Tuberculosis
– Fungal infection
– Autoimmune disorders
– Cancer medications
These are not the common causes but can trigger meningitis. Meningitis is more likely to attack people aged under 5, between 16–25, or over 55 years.
If you do not know about this disease, then there is a good chance you will miss out on the symptoms and that is not good for a patient suffering from the same. The symptoms of meningitis can easily be confused with common cold, cough, and fever. Besides back ache, loss of appetite, and pale skin, here are some symptoms that should not be ignored when spotted:
Meningitis also affects kids and it is difficult to spot the symptoms of meningitis in them. Hence, it is important to know symptoms of meningitis that kids might show when they have this condition. You can focus on their cries, as it will not be regular but will be high-pitched. They will get irritated more often than not and can show the irritation when you pick them up. In children, the meningitis virus can spread quickly causing death and hence the symptoms need to be looked for carefully and if spotted, must immediately be taken for medical check-up and treatment. There is a vaccine that too can be given to kids which will prevent them from getting this illness in the future.
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