Meningitis ,symptoms and diagonosis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
The swelling associated with meningitis often triggers the "hallmark" signs and symptoms of this condition, including headache, fever and a stiff neck.
Most cases of meningitis in the U.S. are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial and fungal infections also can lead to meningitis. Depending on the cause of the infection, meningitis can get better on its own in a couple of weeks — or it can be a life-threatening emergency requiring urgent antibiotic treatment.
If you suspect that you or someone in your family has meningitis, seek medical care right away. Early treatment of bacterial meningitis can prevent serious complications.


Meningitis


Meningitis can be difficult to diagnose.It usually comes on suddenly and can be confused with flu because many of the symptoms are the same.Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, particularly in a young child.This may mean going to your local accident and emergency (A&E) department in the middle of the night. Don't wait for the purple rash to appear, because not everyone gets a rash.



Symptoms

Fever and/or vomiting    Severe headache    Limb, joint, muscle pain Limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes with pain/diarrhoea)Cold hands and feet, shivering    Pale or mottled skin     Breathing fast, breathlessness Rash Rash (anywhere on the body)    Stiff neck Stiff neck (less common in young children)Dislike of bright lights (less common in young children)Very sleepy Confused, delirious   Seizures may also be seen -



Confirming the diagnosis


If meningitis is suspected, treatment will usually begin before the diagnosis has been confirmed. This is because some of the tests can take several hours to complete, and it could be dangerous to delay treatment.The doctors will carry out a physical examination to look for signs of meningitis or septicaemia (blood poisoning), such as a rash. They will also carry out tests to confirm the diagnosis.Diagnostic tests for meningitis may include:a blood test – to check for the presence of bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitisa lumbar puncture – where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the base of the spine under local anaesthetic and checked for the presence of bacteria or virusesa computerised tomography (CT) scan – if there are any other suspected problems, such as brain damagea chest X-ray – to look for signs of infection