How to Recognize Meningitis in Babies

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Meningitis is an infection that affects the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (the meninges), causing inflammation and swelling. Symptoms in infants are fontanel edema, fever, rash, stiffness, rapid breathing, lack of vitality, and crying.

If you are concerned that your baby is suffering from meningitis, you need to take him to the emergency room immediately. If you are unsure of the symptoms he is experiencing, call for help immediately.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Controlling the Symptoms in the Child

Step 1. Look for early symptoms

The first you may notice are vomiting, fever and headache. In infants, there are several ways to spot the signs and clues that fear meningitis, as they are still unable to communicate pain and discomfort in words at this age. Symptoms can rapidly worsen within 3-5 days of the initial infection. For this reason it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

Step 2. Look at the baby's head

Examine it and lightly touch it across the entire surface for bumps or soft, raised spots. Swollen and soft areas are more easily formed on the sides of the head, in the area of the fontanel, which corresponds to the still free space of the developing skull.

• Swollen fontanel isn't always a sign of meningitis, actually. Regardless of the possible cause, it is still a dangerous signal that requires urgent action; you must therefore immediately take the child to the emergency room. Other problems that can cause fontanel swelling are:

  • Encephalitis, swelling of the brain usually caused by an infection
  • Hydrocephalus, caused by the accumulation of fluids in the brain it can occur due to an obstruction or narrowing of the ventricles that help channel fluids outward;
  • Increased intracranial pressure, caused by the accumulation of fluids that can restrict blood flow in the brain.

  

  Step 3. Measure the baby's temperature

  Get an oral or rectal thermometer to measure his fever. If the temperature is between 36 and 38 ° C, he has a fever.

  • If the baby is less than three months old, check if the temperature exceeds 38 ° C;
  • If she is more than three months old, be careful if the temperature is over 39 ° C.
  • However, do not rely only on the high temperature to decide whether to take the baby to the emergency room. Infants under three months old who have meningitis often do not have a fever.

  

  Step 4. Listen to how she cries

  When he has meningitis, he is usually irritable, crying, moaning, and squirming. This occurs especially when you pick him up, due to pain, muscle and joint pain. He may be quiet when he's standing still, but he may start crying loudly when you pick him up.

  • Listen for changes in the way you cry, as they may indicate pain or discomfort. He may start moaning and whining excessively or screaming at a higher pitch than usual.
  • He may also feel pain or cry very loudly when you rock him or touch his neck area.
  • Even bright lights can make him cry, due to photophobia.

  

  Step 5. Pay attention to whether his body feels stiff

  If you suspect that he has meningitis, you need to observe his body to see if he is stiff and tense, especially his neck. The baby may not be able to touch the chest with the chin and may make sudden, jerky movements.

  

  Step 6. Look for skin discolourations or rashes

  Examine skin tone and color; check if it is extremely pale, blotchy, or has turned bluish.

  • Look for rashes that are pink, purple, brown, or clustered, with tiny pinprick-like spots that resemble bruises.
  • If you are not sure if the spots on your skin are rashes, you can check this by doing the glass beaker test. Gently press a clear glass beaker on the affected area. If the rash or red spot does not go away with pressure with the glass, it is most likely a rash. If you can see the vent through the glass, go to the emergency room right away.
  • If the baby has a dark complexion, it may be difficult to see the rash. In this case, check in the lighter areas, such as the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, the stomach or near the eyelids. Red dots or pinpricks may also develop in these areas.

  

  Step 7. Watch your appetite

  He may not be as hungry as usual, refuse to eat when you breastfeed him, and throw up everything he ingests.

  

  Step 8. Pay attention to his activity and energy level

  See if he appears weak, inert, lifeless, tired, or constantly sleepy, regardless of how long he has slept. These signs arise when meningitis spreads into the meninges.

  

  Step 9. Listen to her breathing

  Be careful if it is irregular; you may have a faster breathing rate than usual or have difficulty breathing.

  

  Step 10. Check his body to see if he is cold

  See if he seems to be shivering constantly, exaggeratedly and if he feels unusual cold, especially in his hands and feet.

  

  Step 11. Learn about this disease

  Meningitis occurs when an infection affects the meninges - the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord - which swell and become inflamed. The infection is usually caused by certain bacteria or viruses that enter the baby's body. The causes can be of nature:

  • Viral: it is the main cause of meningitis worldwide and usually resolves on its own. However, infants must be under medical supervision because, without proper treatment, the disease can be fatal. In the case of children and infants, it is important that parents or carers follow the full vaccine protocol. Mothers affected by the herpes simplex virus or HSV-2 type can pass the virus to their baby during delivery if they have active genital lesions.
  • Bacterial: This is a common form of meningitis in infants and very young children.
  • Mycotic: it is an unusual infection, it generally affects AIDS patients and those who have a compromised immune system (for example, those who have undergone an organ transplant and those who are undergoing chemotherapy).
  • Non-infectious: There may be some types of meningitis due to other causes, such as chemical factors, drugs, inflammation, and cancer.

  Part 2 of 4: Getting a Medical Diagnosis

  

  Step 1. Tell your pediatrician right away if your baby experiences severe symptoms such as seizures or loss of consciousness

  It is extremely important to let the doctor know of any of the following signs, so that he knows how to act and has the baby undergo the appropriate diagnostic tests.

  

  Step 2. Tell your doctor if your baby has been exposed to certain bacteria

  There are several bacterial strains responsible for meningitis. If the baby has been in contact with people suffering from gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases, he may have been exposed to certain categories of bacteria:

  • Group B streptococcus: in this category, the most common bacterium responsible for meningitis in children under the age of two is streptococcus agalactiae;
  • Escherichia coli;
  • Genus Listeria;
  • Meningococcus;
  • Pneumococcus;
  • Haemophilus influenzae.

  

  Step 3. Have the baby undergo a full medical examination

  Your pediatrician will likely want to check your vital signs and learn about your medical history. It will measure their temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate.

  

  Step 4. Let the doctor do a blood draw

  He will want to have it analyzed to get a complete blood count. To take the sample, the doctor will make a small hole in the baby's heel.

  The complete blood count (complete blood count) will allow you to detect electrolyte levels, as well as the number of red and white blood cells. You will also want to define the blood's clotting capacity and check for bacteria

  

  Step 5. Learn about computed tomography of the skull

  This test consists of an x-ray that measures the density of the brain to check for any edematous tissues or any internal bleeding. If the patient experiences convulsions or has suffered some trauma, this diagnostic tool is able to detect it, as well as establish whether the subject can be subjected to the next test, represented by lumbar puncture (spinal tap). If the patient is found to have elevated intracranial pressure due to some of the problems described above, they will not be able to undergo this procedure until the pressure has decreased.

  

  Step 6. Ask your doctor if spinal tap is needed

  It consists of extracting a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the baby's lower back, which must then be analyzed to determine the cause of the meningitis.

  • Know that this is a painful procedure. The doctor will apply a topical anesthetic and will use a large needle to draw out the fluid present between the lumbar vertebrae of the little patient.

  • When the person suffers from certain diseases, it is not possible to perform this test. Among the pathologies that prevent it are:

    • Increased intracranial pressure or brain herniation (displacement of brain tissue from its natural position);
    • Infection at the site of the lumbar puncture;
    • Coma;
    • Abnormalities of the spine;
    • Difficulty in breathing.

  • If it is necessary to perform spinal taps, the doctor will use the extracted fluid to perform some tests, including:

    • Gram stain: Once the spinal fluid is removed, some of it is stained with a dye to determine the type of bacteria present.
    • Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis: Sample analysis allows you to define blood cell, protein and glucose levels in the blood. It is a test that helps doctors correctly diagnose the specific type of meningitis and distinguish it from other types.

    Part 3 of 4: Getting Cure for Meningitis

    

    Step 1. Get your baby treated for viral meningitis

    The disease must be treated in different ways depending on the type and cause.

    For example, the mother can transmit the HSV-1 virus during childbirth if she has active genital lesions. If the newborn is diagnosed with brain herpes, he will need to be treated with a drip of antiviral agents (for example, he will be given intravenous acyclovir)

    

    Step 2. Submit him to the treatment plan for bacterial meningitis

    Again, treatments vary depending on the type of bacterium that caused the disease. The doctor will need to pinpoint the exact cause and find the right treatment. Listed below are some medications and their dosages:

    • Amikacin: 15-22.5 mg / kg / day every 8-12 hours;
    • Ampicillin: 200-400 mg / kg / day every 6 hours;
    • Cefotaxime: 200 mg / kg / day every 6 hours;
    • Ceftriaxone: 100 mg / kg / day every 12 hours;
    • Chloramphenicol: 75-100 mg / kg / day every 6 hours;
    • Cotrimoxazole: 15 mg / kg / day every 8 hours;
    • Gentamicin: 7.5 mg / kg / day every 8 hours;
    • Nafcillin: 150-200 mg / kg / day every 4-6 hours;
    • Penicillin G: 300,000-400,000 IU / kg / day every 6 hours;
    • Vancomycin: 45-60 mg / kg / day every 6 hours.

    

    Step 3. Talk to your doctor to find out the duration of the treatment

    This varies according to the cause of the meningitis. Here is roughly how long the child will need to take the medications:

    • Meningococcus: 7 days;
    • Haemophilus influenzae: 7 days;
    • Pneumococcus: 10-14 days;
    • Group B streptococcus: 14-21 days;
    • Aerobic Gram negative bacilli: 14-21 days;
    • Listeria meningitis: 21 days or more.

    

    Step 4. Provide supportive care for the baby

    Give him all the necessary care to make sure he is taking the appropriate dosage of the medications throughout the course of therapy. You also need to encourage him to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Sometimes it is necessary to give them intravenously, due to his young age. You also need to be careful not to pass the disease on to other family members.

    Part 4 of 4: Post-Treatment Care for Meningitis

    

    Step 1. Have the baby's hearing examined

    Hearing loss is one of the most common complications of meningitis. For this reason, it is necessary that all children undergo an audiometric examination after treatment for meningitis, through the study of evoked potentials.

    

    Step 2. Have an MRI scan to measure intracranial pressure

    At the end of the treatment, bacteria or other pathogens may remain and cause complications, including increased intracranial pressure due to the accumulation of fluids between different areas of the brain.

    All children must therefore perform an MRI scan 7-10 days after the end of the treatment, to make sure that the meningitis has been eradicated

    

    Step 3. Vaccinate your child

    Make sure he gets all vaccines to reduce the risk of viral meningitis.

    Reduce the chances that your future children will get this disease. If you are pregnant and have the herpes simplex virus with active genital lesions, you must inform your doctor before giving birth

    

    Step 4. Avoid contact with sick or contagious people

    Some forms of bacterial meningitis are transmissible. Keep babies and young children away from people who may have contracted this type of meningitis.

    

    Step 5. Be aware of the risk factors

    Some people are more likely to get meningitis, depending on certain circumstances, including:

    • Age: children under five have a higher risk of viral meningitis; adults over 20, on the other hand, have a greater risk of contracting the bacterial disease.
    • Living in overcrowded environments: Those who live in close contact with other people, such as in dorms, military bases, school boarding schools, and kindergartens, are more likely to get sick.
    • Weak immune system: Those with compromised immune systems may be at greater risk of contracting this disease. AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes, and immunosuppressive drugs are all factors that can negatively affect the immune system.