JAKARTA, KOMPAS.TV – Stiffness in the neck can be a typical sign of a person, including a child with meningitis.
Meningitis is inflammation of the fluid and membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. One of the causes is bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), which can also cause pneumonia if it attacks the lungs.
Pediatrician from the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) Vonny Ingkiriwang revealed that meningitis typically attacks the lining of the brain, so it can be characterized by stiffness in the neck.
“If we bend the head while he is lying down, we can’t, because there is stiffness. Here we can suspect that the child has meningitis and this is very serious,” he explained in a health webinar, quoted from the website. Between, Monday (28/3/2022).
Vonny continued, the symptoms of meningitis can also be seen from the difficulty of the patient seeing light and feeling dazzled. He looked confused because an infection in his head caused a severe headache and had a high fever.
“To make sure we usually do a bone marrow fluid examination,” he said.
Also Read: Know What Meningitis is and its Symptoms, Diseases Affected by Glenn Fredly
Furthermore, a specialist in internal medicine, consultant pulmonologist, dr. Herikurniawan said, bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae normally in the nose and throat. However, when he is out, for example, aspirated into the lungs, it causes pneumonia.
“When bacteria enter the blood, they enter the lining of the brain, causing meningitis. If they enter the ear, it can cause an ear infection,” said Herikurniawan, who practices at RSCM-FKUI.
In terms of transmission, bacteria can be transmitted from an infected person to another person through droplets, for example, when he coughs and sneezes like Covid-19 and pulmonary TB.
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