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Meningitis in Children

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is meningitis? " пїЅ Meningitis is a condition that can cause fever, headache, and a stiff neck. Meningitis happens when the tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord (called the "meninges " пїЅ) get infected. This can occur after a child has an infection in another part of the body. The germs can travel through the blood to the tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord. пїЅ пїЅ

There are 2 main types of meningitis, depending on which germs are causing the infection. "Bacterial meningitis " пїЅ is caused by bacteria. "Viral meningitis " пїЅ is caused by viruses. пїЅ пїЅ

It is important that doctors figure out if a child has bacterial or viral meningitis. This is because bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. If bacterial meningitis is not treated quickly, it can lead to brain problems such as deafness or learning problems. Bacterial meningitis can even lead to death. Viral meningitis is usually less serious, and does not usually lead to long-term brain problems or death. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of meningitis? " пїЅ Bacterial and viral meningitis can cause many of the same symptoms. These can include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Acting confused, or being hard to wake up
  • Having light bother a persons eyes

Newborn babies can also have other symptoms that include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Not feeding well
  • Diarrhea
  • A bulging soft spot on the skull
  • Being more sleepy or acting more upset than usual

Sometimes, bacterial and viral meningitis have different symptoms. Children with bacterial meningitis may have seizures or red-purple spots on the skin. Children with viral meningitis may have a runny nose, muscle aches, cough, or a red-pink rash. пїЅ пїЅ

When should I bring my child to the doctor? " пїЅ If you think that your child might have meningitis, bring him or her to the doctor or hospital right away. пїЅ пїЅ

Is there a test for meningitis? " пїЅ Yes. Doctors can do different tests to figure out if a child has meningitis and what type it is. Tests can include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Blood tests
  • "Lumbar puncture, " пїЅ also known as a spinal tap " пїЅ During this procedure, a doctor puts a thin needle in the lower back and removes a small amount of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. He or she will do lab tests on the spinal fluid.
  • CT scan, or other imaging tests " пїЅ Imaging tests can create pictures of the inside of the body.

How is meningitis treated? " пїЅ Treatment depends on the type of meningitis. пїЅ пїЅ

Bacterial meningitis is treated in the hospital with: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Antibiotic medicines that go into a child's vein
  • Other treatments, such as medicines to keep the blood pressure normal

Viral meningitis is not treated with antibiotics. That's because antibiotics do not kill viruses. Treatment for viral meningitis includes: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Rest
  • Drinking fluids
  • Medicine to reduce the fever and headache

It can take a few days for test results to show whether a child has bacterial or viral meningitis. But bacterial meningitis needs to be treated quickly, so doctors usually start antibiotics right away. Then, doctors wait for the test results to know if they should continue or stop the antibiotics. пїЅ пїЅ

Can meningitis be spread from one person to another? " пїЅ Yes. The bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis can be spread from one person to another. пїЅ пїЅ

Can meningitis be prevented? " пїЅ To help reduce the chance of getting meningitis, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Make sure that your child gets the vaccines your doctor or nurse recommends " пїЅ Certain vaccines can reduce the chance of your child getting meningitis.

If someone in your home has meningitis, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Avoid spreading germs " пїЅ For example, wash your hands before eating, and do not share cups or silverware.
  • Ask your doctor or nurse about taking antibiotics " пїЅ Sometimes doctors prescribe antibiotics for other people at home to prevent them from getting meningitis.

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15649 Version 4.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

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пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ