DiagnosisA health care provider can diagnose meningitis based on a medical history, a physical exam and certain tests. During the exam, your provider may check for signs of infection around the head, ears, throat and skin along the spine. Show
Common tests to diagnose meningitis include:
TreatmentThe treatment depends on the type of meningitis you or your child has. Bacterial meningitisAcute bacterial meningitis must be treated right away with intravenous antibiotics and sometimes corticosteroids. This helps to ensure recovery and reduce the risk of complications, such as brain swelling and seizures. The antibiotic or combination of antibiotics depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection. Your health care provider may recommend a broad-spectrum antibiotic until the exact cause of the meningitis is known. Your provider may drain any infected sinuses or mastoids — the bones behind the outer ear that connect to the middle ear. Viral meningitisAntibiotics can't cure viral meningitis, and most cases improve on their own in several weeks. Treatment of mild cases of viral meningitis usually includes:
Your health care provider may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the brain and a medicine to control seizures. If a herpes virus caused your meningitis, an antiviral medicine is available. Other types of meningitisIf the cause of your meningitis is unknown, you may start antiviral and antibiotic treatment while the cause is determined. Treatment for chronic meningitis is based on the underlying cause. Antifungal medicines treat fungal meningitis. A combination of specific antibiotics can treat tuberculous meningitis. However, these medicines can have serious side effects, so treatment may be deferred until a laboratory can confirm that the cause is fungal. Noninfectious meningitis due to allergic reaction or autoimmune disease may be treated with corticosteroids. In some cases, no treatment may be required because the condition can resolve on its own. Cancer-related meningitis requires therapy for the specific cancer. Preparing for your appointmentMeningitis can lead to death, depending on the cause. If you've been exposed to bacterial meningitis and you develop symptoms, go to an emergency room and tell the health care providers that you may have meningitis. If you're not sure what you have and you call your provider for an appointment, here's how to prepare for your visit. What you can do
For meningitis, some basic questions to ask your health care provider include:
What to expect from your doctorYour health care provider is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
What you can do in the meantimeWhen you call your health care provider's office for an appointment, describe the type and severity of your symptoms. If your provider says you don't need to come in immediately, rest as much as possible while you're waiting for your appointment. Drink plenty of fluids and take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to reduce your fever and body aches. Also avoid any medicines that may make you less alert. Don't go to work or school. Nov. 16, 2022 Why is a lumbar puncture performed when meningitis is suspected?Why is a lumbar puncture needed? Currently, a lumbar puncture is the only definitive way to diagnose meningitis and what is causing it. This helps guide treatment and a confirmed diagnosis can help patients left with after-effects access the help they need.
When is a lumbar puncture performed?Lumbar puncture should be performed for the following indications:. Suspicion of meningitis.. Suspicion of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Suspicion of nervous system diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and carcinomatous meningitis.. Therapeutic relief of pseudotumor cerebri.. Is lumbar puncture contraindicated in meningitis?Avoiding infectious complications – Meningitis and other infections are rare complications of LP. (See 'Infection' above.) LP is contraindicated in patients with a suspected spinal epidural abscess. Suspected bacteremia is not a contraindication to LP.
What does CSF look like in bacterial meningitis?Bacterial meningitis
Appearance: Clear, cloudy, or purulent. Opening pressure: Elevated (>25 cm H2 O) WBC count: >100 cells/µL (>90% PMN); partially treated cases may have as low as 1 WBC/µL.
|