Meningitis - Alternative treatment

Meningitis is caused by infection to meninges and cerebrospinal fluid. Usually children between the age of 15 and 24 are affected by this disease. Viral, bacterial or fungal infection can also cause meningitis.

Symptoms

High fever, headache, vomiting or nausea along with headache, difficulty to maintain eye contact or to concentrate in some thing, sleepiness, stiff neck, rashes on skin, seizures, leg pain etc. Symptoms may last for two or three days. Newborns might not have these types of symptoms but will cry continuously or eat poorly. Some times there might be a soft spot on head that may bulge.

Causes

Meningitis is usually caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infection. Bacterial infection is more dangerous. Bacterial infection occurs when bacteria enter blood stream and reach brain or spinal cord. Ear or sinus infection can also lead to meningitis as the bacteria will enter meninges directly. This may happen in case of skull fracture also.

Types of meningitis caused by bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), that may cause pneumonia, ear or sinus infection, Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), Haemophilus influenzae (haemophilus), Listeria monocytogenes (listeria). Viral meningitis lasts for about 10 days or less only. Chronic meningitis is caused by invading of slow growing organisms. Drug infection, inflammatory diseases and some type of cancer can cause meningitis.

Treatment

Bacterial meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics. Treatment might be for convulsions, brain swelling, dehydration or shock. If there is infected sinus or mastoid it will have to be drained. In case of viral meningitis bed rest along with plenty of fluids and pain medications. Anti viral medication will also be given if the virus is herpes.

Bacteria and virus usually spreads through coughing, sneezing, kissing etc. Sharing tooth brush, eating utensils or cigarette can also spread bacteria’s or viruses. Cleaning the hands are also helpful to prevent spreading of disease. Taking exercise, enough ret and a healthy diet is also important. Medications might be for increasing blood pressure. Mechanical ventilation or supplemental oxygen might also be given. Bacterial meningitis might cause learning or hearing disabilities, visual problem, seizures etc. It might affect kidney’s, liver, heart etc or might lead to neurological problems.

Vaccines like Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV), Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) are given to those infected by bacteria. Viral meningitis is treated with acyclovir (Zovirax®) or ribavirin (Virazole®). These might cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headache. In case of bacterial meningitis patients are treated with a cocktile medicines like combination of Penicillin and cephalosporin (e.g., ceftriaxone [Rocephin®], cefotaxime [Claforan®]). If virus is caused by fungi Amphotericin B and fluconazole (Diflucan®) are effective. Parasitic meningitis patients are given benzimidazole derivative or other antihelminthic agent. Along with antibiotics cortico steroids, diazepam, rifampin, etc are given according to situation. Surgery is to be done if there are openings causing leak of cerebrospinal fluid.


Prevention

Routine immunization and vaccines for measles, mumps, poliomeningococcus, pneumococcus etc can prevent attack of meningitis. Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) vaccine given to children at the age of two, four and six can also prevent meningitis.Hib vaccination is also helpful. Preventive medicines like rifampin (Rifadin®), ceftriaxone (Duricef®), and ciprofloxacin (Cipro®) can be given to prevent bacterial meningitis.


Alternative therapy

Nutritional and herbal therapy is found effective in some cases. Homeopathy is also said to be effective for meningitis. Nutritional treatment involves supplementing Vitamin A and Vitamin B12. herbs like garlic is also found effective