Serous meningitis is the inflammatory process in the cerebral membranes of the brain and spinal cord, accompanied by the accumulation of serous fluid in the brain envelopes. The main cause of serous meningitis is the enterovirus , which penetrates the body together with unwashed vegetables and fruits, through water, and also by airborne droplets. The most common victims of serous meningitis are children aged three to six, who have a more vulnerable immune system and are more frivolous about hygiene. Among adults, serous meningitis is much less common, children do not get sick until they reach the age of three months, as they are protected by maternal antibodies. The disease is very serious, leading to disastrous consequences in case of improper treatment: deafness, blindness, speech disorders, psychomotor development delay and even death. That is why it is very important to know about how serous meningitis manifests in children, what are its first signs and symptoms.
How to determine serous meningitis?
Depending on the causes of its causes, the manifestations of serous meningitis will be different:
- Viral meningitis . This disease begins acutely, its first signs are the rise in temperature to very high values (above 380) and the strongest bursting headache. These symptoms are accompanied by repeated vomiting and pain in the movements of the eyeballs. There are also hallucinations and delusions. The main feature that makes it possible to distinguish meningitis from other diseases with similar symptoms is the rigidity (tension) of the muscles of the neck, back and occiput. The child at the same time takes the "hammer" posture with his head thrown back and his legs tucked up to the stomach. For babies up to one year there is also a swelling of a large fontanel. After 3-7 days, the temperature drops, and within a week all symptoms of the disease disappear. But the relief lasts not for long and within a short time there is a relapse of the disease, which is accompanied by pronounced disorders in the work of the nervous system.
- Bacterial meningitis . The disease proceeds subacute: the child becomes whiny, badly eats and sleeps, complains of headaches and quickly gets tired. Subfebrile fever is noted, vomiting on the background of headaches for 14-21 days. After this, meningic symptoms begin to appear: muscle stiffness, Kernig symptom. Patients report decreased vision and hearing.
Rash with serous meningitis
The most common rash in serous meningitis occurs as a result of infection with a meningococcal bacterium. In mild forms of the disease, the rash is a small dotted rash of dark cherry color. In severe cases of meningitis, the rash looks like large blemishes and bruises. It appears on the 1-2 day of the disease and lasts for 10 days.
As can be seen from the above, the clinic of serous meningitis in children is similar in many respects with the course of other infectious diseases. Therefore, at the first signs of the child's illness: headaches accompanied by vomiting, fever and abdominal pain, it is necessary to consult a specialist to make the correct diagnosis. For the diagnosis of "serous meningitis" it will be necessary to perform puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid. The causative agents of serous meningitis are easily transmitted by airborne droplets, so the child with suspicion of this disease must be isolated before the doctor comes. Further treatment of serous meningitis occurs only in hospital settings.