During the change of season, the risk of catching a cold increases due to the large daily temperature range. It’s easy to think of a cold when cold and fever symptoms appear at this time, but it could be “meningitis” so you need to be careful.
The risk of meningitis, including colds, increases during the change of seasons, when immunity is easy to drop ㅣ Source: Getty Image Bank
What happens when a virus or bacterium enters the meninges
Our brain is surrounded by the soft membrane, the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater from the deepest side. These three membranes are called meninges or meninges. Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges.
Most meningitis is infectious and occurs when viruses, bacteria and fungi enter our body through the respiratory tract and enter the cerebrospinal fluid through the blood. Therefore, meningitis is more likely to occur in the summer, when bacteria and viruses are active, or in the changing of the seasons, when immunity is easy to drop.
Meningitis can be broadly divided into viral and bacterial. Viral meningitis occurs when an enterovirus or coxsackie virus becomes infected through direct contact with saliva, sputum, or a runny nose. Cold-like symptoms appear at first, but symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and laryngeal stiffness appear. Although viral meningitis is highly contagious, it resolves spontaneously without special treatment. If symptoms are severe, treatment to relieve symptoms.
Meninges ㅣ Source: Getty Imagesbank
Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, requires prompt treatment. Initial symptoms are similar to those of viral meningitis but progress rapidly and can lead to death or serious sequelae if not treated early. Bacterial meningitis is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus influenzae, and meningococcus and the risk can be avoided by using appropriate antibiotics. Typical symptoms include stiff neck, glare, and headache.
Is it a cold or meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis can lead to serious or life-threatening complications if left untreated. Therefore, it is best to be aware of the difference between cold and meningitis symptoms and visit a hospital immediately if you have any suspicious symptoms. The consulting physician of neurosurgeon Hidak Oh Kyung-pil (Mediin Hospital) said: “Meningitis is characterized by findings such as stiff neck on neurological examination. There may be differences accompanied by vomiting.” However, meningitis cannot be diagnosed on the basis of symptoms alone and accurate diagnosis is required through neurological examination, brain imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid examination.
Prevention is the best treatment, how to prevent meningitis?
Vaccines exist for several strains that cause bacterial meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, meningococcal vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the incidence of meningitis. Children over 2 months of age and less than 5 years of age can be vaccinated against meningitis and high-risk groups such as immunoglobulin deficiency, functional or anatomical asphyxia, bone marrow or organ transplant and children undergoing immunosuppressive therapy should receive vaccination.
On the other hand, since there is still no vaccine for viral meningitis, the best prevention is to pay attention to personal hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after going to the bathroom or before and after preparing food, and cover your mouth with a tissue or collar when you cough.
Help = Hidak Consultant of Doctor Kyungpil Oh (Neurosurgeon of Mediin Hospital)
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