Identifying and Understanding the Symptoms of Meningitis – Important Information

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ATTACK – If you experience headaches for a long time, especially accompanied by fever, you need to be alert. According to a neurology specialist from the University of Indonesia, dr. Kartika Maharani, Sp.S(K), cases like this can end in meningitis.

“Fever, headaches that don’t go away using medication that is usually taken and the cause is not yet known, there is no diarrhea, cough and runny nose, it must be suspected as meningitis,” he said, according to Suara.com (BantenNews.co.id network), Sunday (5/11/2023).

A person with the initial symptoms of a prolonged headache and fever, said Kartika, is usually only taken to hospital if they experience the third symptom, namely unconsciousness, and this condition is actually said to be serious.

“When the most severe symptoms reach the point of unconsciousness, seizures, weakness in the hands and feet, treating it is very difficult and later the remaining symptoms will also be severe,” explained Kartika.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and brain membranes that can affect anyone from children to old adults. The causes can vary depending on the age of the person affected, in children for example it is mostly caused by bacteria.

According to Kartika, specifically in Indonesia, the most common cause is TB germ infection which attacks the brain.

“But it’s not just bacteria or TB germs, there are also fungi, viruses and other causes, and the symptoms can vary,” said he, who is a member of the Association of Indonesian Neurologists (PERDOSI).

Talking about people who are susceptible to meningitis, Kartika mentioned people with low immunity, for example children and the elderly, people with certain diseases that cause the body’s immunity to decrease, such as HIV and cancer patients.

Until now, continued Kartika, treatment for meningitis is to treat the germs that attack but cannot reverse brain damage that has already occurred.

Therefore, once again, he reminded people not to ignore symptoms such as prolonged headaches and fever.

“Once the condition is very serious, it is very difficult to reverse the brain damage that has occurred. Often there is still difficulty speaking, weakness in the hands and feet, sometimes there are still seizures. Recovered but still have residual symptoms. “So don’t come to the hospital too late,” said Kartika. (Ed)

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2023-11-05 19:15:54
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