It often occurs in children aged 3 to 6 years old with weak immunity.
When a child complains of a headache in the summer, it is usually easy to think of it as a summer cold or an air-conditioner, but it could be meningitis, so you need to pay attention.
According to the medical community on the 24th, meningitis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the meninges, a thin membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It occurs most often in children aged 3 to 6 years who have a weak immune system.
The cause of meningitis is the penetration of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Viral meningitis is the most common. Viral meningitis accounts for about 80% of all cases of meningitis. It is mainly caused by enteroviruses such as echovirus and coxsackievirus. It appears most often in children from birth to 7 years of age. After an incubation period of about 7 days, the fever lasts for 2 to 3 days. It is mainly transmitted through human phlegm, nasal mucus, and feces.
Bacterial meningitis is mainly caused by pneumococcal, influenzae, or meningococcal bacteria. It occurs most often in young children from birth to 5 years of age. Meningococcal infection is more common in adolescents.
Symptoms of meningitis include fever of 38 degrees or higher, headache, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Symptoms similar to those of the common cold can appear and be insignificant. However, if not treated in time, the disease can develop, so if high fever and severe headache persist, you should seek treatment as soon as possible.
Kim Dong-hyun, a professor of pediatrics at Inha University Hospital, said, “If not treated in a timely manner, aftereffects such as hearing loss, vision loss, memory disorder, behavioral disorder, personality change, and paralysis may appear.”
Treatment depends on the causative organism. Bacterial meningitis is treated with appropriate antibiotics depending on the causative organism. A treatment period of at least 10 to 14 days is required. Vaccination against bacterial meningitis is recommended.
Viral meningitis usually improves spontaneously without special treatment. Treatment to relieve symptoms such as fever, headache, and dehydration is sufficient. However, in the case of infants and the elderly with weak immunity, complications or sequelae may occur, so caution is required.
To prevent meningitis, it is important to maintain a regular lifestyle to manage immunity. Especially in summer, it is better not to go to places where a lot of people gather. Children and the elderly with weakened immune systems are more at risk, so it is helpful to wash your hands frequently.
Professor Kim said, “It is easy to be transmitted through feces of infected patients on vacation, oral respiratory secretions, and contaminated water.” “It is important to maintain a clean lifestyle for prevention.”
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2023-08-24 05:45:00
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