Serous meningitis in children - to facilitate treatment it is important not to miss the first symptoms

Serous meningitis is a rapid disorder of the brain membranes, , which is characterized by a serous inflammatory process, the causative agent of which are viruses, bacteria or fungi.

And in 80% of cases, the culprits of inflammation are viruses.

This serious disorder is mainly affected by children under 6 years of age, and signs of serous meningitis are observed in schoolchildren, rarely in adults.

Causes of Serous Lesion

The causes that cause serous meningitis in children are as follows:

• group of enteroviruses;
• filtering virus;
• tuberculosis virus;
• the causative agent of syphilis;
• fungal flora.

Risk groups include children:

• of prematurity;
• babies, who in the womb were infected with infections that caused CNS disorders;
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• children under 3 years of age who have had complicated purulent illnesses, especially if their center was in the area of ​​the head or neck;
• children with congenital hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, other CNS disorders;
• if the baby was required to perform open operations on the head or neck;
• if there was a brain injury.

Symptoms and signs of serous meningitis in children

The onset of the process is often characterized by an acute course.

Body temperature increases to 38-40 degrees. The patient is not disturbed by passing headaches. Often all this is combined with vomiting and diarrhea. Frequent manifestations of serous inflammation - anxiety, abdominal pains to delirium and seizures.

But after a week, normal body temperature is observed, and by 7 days all the symptoms of the disease have disappeared.

Among other things, there may be signs that indicate significant changes in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Virological and serological methods of investigation make it possible to determine exactly the causative agent of the disorder.

The latent period of serous meningitis is 4 days.

After it, serous meningitis in children acquires such symptoms:

1. A temperature jump of up to 40 degrees.
2. A powerful headache in the temples, which increases when moving with eyes, noise, bright light.
3. Cramps of hands and feet. In this case, the kids become capricious, easily excitable.
4. Pains in extremities, joints, general weakness.
5. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
6. Often the child has manifestations of ARVI.
7. Infants feel the protrusions of the fontanel, the symptom of Lesage - when lifting the baby by the armpits, he bends his legs and pulls them to the stomach.
8. The sensitivity of the eyes and hearing is increased.
9. Inability to press the chin to the chest.

There are standard for this kind of meningitis manifestations:

• Kernig symptom - the child is unable to straighten the bent leg;
• a symptom of Brudzinsky - if you bend your head, then your legs will bend.

Diagnostic Techniques

Serological methods should be used to detect serous inflammation. Serological diagnosis of is aimed at detecting in the body of a patient antibodies to the causative agent of the disorder.

Then the blood test of the bacteriological species is surely performed. If this deviation exists, the results of this study will be negative.

In the same way is prescribed for spinal fluid , after which the patient becomes much easier. It is this indicator that is distinctive for serous meningitis from violations of other forms.

Serologic abnormalities often take into account the results of virological examinations.

But, despite a huge number of diagnostic methods, the main thing is the study of the spinal fluid. Without the puncture of this substance, it is rarely possible to place an accurate diagnosis.

The diagnosis of "serous meningitis" is established on the basis of a combination of some conditions:

• the presence of certain symptoms;
• intoxication;
• inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid.

The last indicator is the determining factor in establishing the diagnosis. To investigate the CSF, a lumbar puncture is performed - a sterile puncture of the spinal cord in the lumbar region.

Liquid is not just collected by analysis, it matters also what color it is and how it flows. With serous inflammation, it beats with a stream and is transparent.

Methods of treatment of

Despite the fact that with timely detection of the disease, the course of serous meningitis is mostly benign and may not cause serious complications, treatment should still be started as soon as possible in order to prevent negative consequences.

If this disease is identified, the patient is hospitalized and treated under the supervision of medical personnel. The duration of treatment depends on the form of the disorder and the complications.

Principles of treatment of serous meningitis in children are almost always the same:

• antimicrobial and antitoxic treatment( albumin, blood plasma, Ringer's venous solution, etc.);
• reception of certain types of vitamins( vitamin B2 and B6, C, etc.);
• can be prescribed glucocorticoids;
• administration of diuretics( to reduce blood pressure and reduce the likelihood of brain edema);
• special auxiliary procedures with the inhalation of air saturated with oxygen;
• indispensable observance of bed rest in combination with a sparing diet.

Consequences and Complications of

Disease One of the main questions that concerned parents ask doctors is what consequences of serous meningitis in children may appear? It is possible that there is a risk of some danger.

But with the current medicine and timely access to a specialist, the risk of consequences is significantly reduced.

Undoubtedly, there are cases when for help to the doctor come too late.

In this case, some kind of consequences of disease in babies are possible:

• the most common consequence is permanent headaches;
• sleep disturbance;
• heavy perception and data storage;
• uncontrolled muscle contraction.

Such consequences are the most frequent and can disturb children for 5 years, but the degree of complexity is not considered the greatest. Of course, after a long time such manifestations should disappear on their own.

The heaviest consequences:

• hearing loss and vision;
• deviations in the work of the brain;
• mental retardation;
• speech impairment;
• movement disorder;
• paralysis;
• paresis of hands and feet;
• attacks of epilepsy.

But such indicators are extremely rare, and even they can be neutralized with the participation of a doctor. Although it should be reported that much time and effort is needed.

Preventative measures

Elementary precautions for infection:

1. Babies and teenagers should not bathe in open water;
2. Drink only boiled water;
3. It is good to wash and rinse with vegetables and fruits before eating;
4. Closely observe the rules of hygiene. Be sure to wash your hands with soap after each stay in the toilet and before eating;
5. It is advisable to lead a normal life: to maintain a proper diet, to temper, to exercise, to take vitamins, to have a good rest.

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