Meningitis Diagnosis and Treatment
A procedure called a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, will help determine whether someone has meningitis. During the procedure, an area of the lower back is injected with an anesthetic, and a needle is slipped between two bones in the spine to obtain a small sample of spinal fluid. The fluid is normally clear, so if it appears cloudy and contains white blood cells, you may have meningitis.
Lab analysis will help determine which specific type of meningitis you have -- bacterial, viral, or fungal. Samples of blood, urine, and secretions from your nose or ears may also be taken. Because the disease can progress very rapidly, treatment will begin immediately -- even before the results of the tests are known.
Unraveling the Whooping Cough Epidemic
In California, 2010 started out much like many others for the public health detectives who keep an eye on infectious diseases.But by the end of the year, 10 California babies were dead from whooping cough, aka pertussis, a highly contagious disease that’s preventable by a vaccine.Kathleen Harriman, PhD, MPH, RN, chief of the California Department of Public Health's vaccine preventable disease epidemiology section, says 9,477 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of pertussis were reported...
Read the Unraveling the Whooping Cough Epidemic article > >
Bacterial meningitis
The bacterial form of meningitis is especially life-threatening and must be treated quickly. You will likely be admitted to the hospital to receive antibiotics intravenously until the doctor receives the results of a spinal tap. If you have bacterial meningitis, you will continue to receive antibiotics until the infection is cured, possibly for as long as two weeks. Because bacterial meningitis is contagious, you will probably stay in an isolated room for at least 48 hours. Meningitis can make the eyes sensitive to light, so you may prefer a darkened room. You will receive plenty of liquids and drugs to relieve headache and fever. To protect you from becoming re-infected, doctors will look for a source of the infection, such as an infected sinus.
If you have the type of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis, the people close to you are at risk of becoming infected. Your doctor may recommend that they take an antibiotic to prevent infection. Very fast treatment of this type of meningitis is vital, since it is fatal 10%-14% of the time in the U.S.
Viral meningitis
Antibiotics are not effective for treating viral meningitis and, in most cases, the infection resolves on its own with time. Viral meningitis is usually much less severe and requires only a few days at most in the hospital. During this time, you will receive supportive care, such as intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration as well as painkillers.
Fungal meningitis
If you have fungal meningitis, you will receive antifungal medications in the hospital that can fight this type of infection. Treatment will also consist of taking fluids to prevent dehydration and drugs to control pain and fever.
Understanding Meningitis -- Diagnosis & Treatment
In this article
How Do I Know if I Have Meningitis?
A procedure called a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, will help determine whether someone has meningitis. During the procedure, an area of the lower back is injected with an anesthetic, and a needle is slipped between two bones in the spine to obtain a small sample of spinal fluid. The fluid is normally clear, so if it appears cloudy and contains white blood cells, you may have meningitis.
Lab analysis will help determine which specific type of meningitis you have -- bacterial, viral, or fungal. Samples of blood, urine, and secretions from your nose or ears may also be taken. Because the disease can progress very rapidly, treatment will begin immediately -- even before the results of the tests are known.
Recommended Related to Children's Vaccines
Unraveling the Whooping Cough Epidemic
In California, 2010 started out much like many others for the public health detectives who keep an eye on infectious diseases.But by the end of the year, 10 California babies were dead from whooping cough, aka pertussis, a highly contagious disease that’s preventable by a vaccine.Kathleen Harriman, PhD, MPH, RN, chief of the California Department of Public Health's vaccine preventable disease epidemiology section, says 9,477 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of pertussis were reported...
Read the Unraveling the Whooping Cough Epidemic article > >
What Is the Treatment for Meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis
The bacterial form of meningitis is especially life-threatening and must be treated quickly. You will likely be admitted to the hospital to receive antibiotics intravenously until the doctor receives the results of a spinal tap. If you have bacterial meningitis, you will continue to receive antibiotics until the infection is cured, possibly for as long as two weeks. Because bacterial meningitis is contagious, you will probably stay in an isolated room for at least 48 hours. Meningitis can make the eyes sensitive to light, so you may prefer a darkened room. You will receive plenty of liquids and drugs to relieve headache and fever. To protect you from becoming re-infected, doctors will look for a source of the infection, such as an infected sinus.
If you have the type of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis, the people close to you are at risk of becoming infected. Your doctor may recommend that they take an antibiotic to prevent infection. Very fast treatment of this type of meningitis is vital, since it is fatal 10%-14% of the time in the U.S.
Viral meningitis
Antibiotics are not effective for treating viral meningitis and, in most cases, the infection resolves on its own with time. Viral meningitis is usually much less severe and requires only a few days at most in the hospital. During this time, you will receive supportive care, such as intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration as well as painkillers.
Fungal meningitis
If you have fungal meningitis, you will receive antifungal medications in the hospital that can fight this type of infection. Treatment will also consist of taking fluids to prevent dehydration and drugs to control pain and fever.
Source...