Meningitis Symptoms in Adults and Management
Meningitis is a communicable disease. It affects the meninges ( A protective membrane that covers the brain and the spinal cord ). Meningitis causes an inflammation of the membrane. One of the most common symptoms of meningitis is stiffness in the neck and jaws.
When the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord get infected due to viral or bacterial infection it starts causing more fluid buildup resulting in inflammation of the membrane.
Types of meningitis
Bacterial meningitis.
Right now Florida state is seeing the massive growth of meningitis in bisexual males, and the most common form of them is bacterial meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis can kill & requires immediate medical attention, and no vaccine can guarantee 100% protection from meningitis.
Viral meningitis
Till now science believes that viral meningitis is less lethal than bacterial meningitis, but the virus can adapt to the medication much faster than the bacteria.
Viral meningitis can go away on its own based on the immune response of the patient, but it could be deadly for small children and elderly people with low immunity.
Fungal meningitis.
Inhaling fungal spores could also cause meningitis inflammation, it’s rare but it should not be taken lightly. People with compromised immune systems like HIV and cancer patients are at a higher risk.
Parasitic meningitis
Parasitic meningitis is much less common than viral and bacterial meningitis, but it doesn’t mean it is not deadly. In fact, the suffering of parasitic infections is way more painful than viral and bacterial infections.
People could get infected with parasitic meningitis when people eat undercooked freshwater fish, frogs, snails, poultry, slugs, or accidentally ingest parasitic eggs through dirt or any other way.
Amebic meningitis.
One of the rarest and most fatal brain infections is caused by a single-celled amoeba named Naegleria Fowleri which lives in fresh warm water and soil.
People get infected with naegleria fowleri usually by swimming and submerging their heads in contaminated water. So make sure to stay away from public pools.
In children (over the age of 2) and adults the most common meningitis symptoms are:
nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting
fatigue, drowsiness, sluggishness
confusion and disorientation
severe headaches
sensitivity to bright light
poor appetite and decreased thirst
less often, abnormal skin color or skin rash
very cold hands and feet
muscle aches or joint pain
rapid breathing and chills
Meningitis symptoms in infants/babies can include:
sudden high fever
irritability and constant crying (even when being held)
difficult eating or with breast-feeding
Blank Staring
fatigue/lethargy and abnormal inactivity
a bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby’s head
and signs of stiffness in the body and neck.
Meningitis Diagnosis.
Doctors commonly check for meningitis infections in three ways
Blood Tests to identify bacteria or viruses.
Lumbar puncture: Where a sample of the spinal fluid is collected and checked for infection-causing germs
Ct Scan to examine any damage to the brain.
Treatment
In case of any form of meningitis, hospital treatment is recommended. get the patient checked and treated by the senior clinician as soon as possible.
Bacterial meningitis spreads fast, so it is important to get specialized medical attention as soon as possible.
In case of severe infection of meningitis, Antibiotics and glucose solutions are given directly through the veins to get the results faster and control the Infection.
In chronic meningitis, people need to stay in hospital for a few days to a few weeks depending upon the patient’s condition.
In mild to moderate cases, people are able to go back home. Many times meningitis will normally get better on its own without causing any serious problems.
What you can do to speed up recovery at home?
Managing Neck and joint stiffness with Mahanarayana Oil
In Ayurveda massage is a part of healing. In ayurvedic science, health is seen as a holistic science that looks not only at the physical problems but also at emotional and spiritual problems.
In Ayurveda massage is treated as a process that addresses the body as well as the soul. Centuries-old specialized herbal oil recipes have also been backed up by modern science now.
One of the most potent oils for massage to relieve stiffness in the neck is mahanarayana oil.
Mahanarayan Oil (also called Mahanarayana Thailam) is a centuries-old ayurvedic medicated oil prepared using sesame oil as a base and cooked in carefully chosen medicinal herbs that improve the strength of the muscles, bones, and joints. It has a soothing effect and reduces muscle inflammation.
It is also a very effective remedy for all types of arthritic disorders, especially osteoarthritis.
Massage for at least 20 minutes with light hands at the affected neck area to relieve stiffness and pain in the neck due to inflammation.
Control Fever With Holy basil and Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy)
Giloy and basil both hold the name of Amrit or Nectar of life in ayurvedic medicinal culture.
Giloy has proven to break most chronic fevers without any side effects. Many patients complain of respiratory problems in meningitis. Giloy has also proven to alleviate asthmatic symptoms.
Holy basil is considered a deity in India. It is considered as the mother of all medicines. Its Hindu name Tulsi means the one which is incomparable.
Ayurvedic texts have mentioned holy basil with numerous actions, including the following: adaptogenic, antibacterial, antiperiodic (prevents the recurrence of disease symptoms), antipyretic/febrifuge (reduces chronic fever), antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative (relieves intestinal gas).
Nourish Brain health with Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) & Ashwagandha
The inflammation caused by meningitis can cause damage to the brain and spinal cord if it is not treated appropriately.
Brahmi is neither a stimulant nor a sedative—it is classified instead as an adaptogen, a unique type of herb that helps manage the brain’s natural neuron processes and maintain homeostasis of energy levels. Because of these qualities, it is a neuron rejuvenating herb.
Ashwagandha has neuroprotective qualities. Studies say that it improves memory, increases spatial and visual memory, decreases oxidative brain stress, and helps prevent nerve cell degeneration due to infection.
Recover faster with Shilajit.
Inflammation and fever can cause loss of appetite. Sick stomach, nausea, and vomiting are common, resulting in the body losing all of its life energy.
Recent research has proven that shilajit can help improve cell functions in the body, which means it may reduce fatigue at the source of the problem and increase energy levels naturally.
