Meningitis in children can be classified to viral and bacterial meningitis, depend on the source of the disease. Viral meningitis is commonly less dangerous compared to bacterial meningitis. The viral one often occurs during the summer month and goes away over the time without significant complication. Event though if tour children experience the symptoms of viral meningitis, it would be better if consult it to the doctor.
Different from the viral one, bacterial meningitis is an extremely dangerous, if it not treated well, it may trigger the complication such as seizures, deafness, paralysis or even mental retardation. The infection may spread to the blood and can cause shock, even death.
Meningitis in children starts to develop when an inflammation occurs at the meanings area, the membrane which covered the brain. Enteroviruses, Arboviruses, HIV-1 and HSV-2 are the most common viruses that cause viral meningitis. Meanwhile in bacterial meningitis, Hemophilus Influenzae, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Neisseria meningitides are the most common bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis.
Symptoms of meningitis in children
Since the early symptoms of meningitis may be close related to the flu or cold symptoms, parent should be fully alert if finding these symptoms below,
- Hi-grade fever. Parent should be aware if the children under three months have 38oC and 39oC for babies between three and six months.
- Unusual patterns of breathing
- Refusing feeds and vomiting
- Skin is blotchy, pale or turning blue
- Irritability especially when pick up
- Shivering
- Red or purple spots that don’t fade under pressure
- Children may be less responsive, vacant, drowsy or difficult to wake
Those symptoms of meningitis in children may not appear for all sign in a time. If the children experience some of those symptoms, it would be better to talk to the doctor soon.
The glass test to confirmed meningitis in children
As stated above that one of the common sign of the meningitis is red or purple spot on the skin. To confirm the whether the spot is related to the disease, parent can do a simple test called glass test. Using clear and transparent glass, and press the glass to the rash. Observe whether the spot fade and loss under pressure. If the red spot is persists and they don’t change color, contact your doctor soon.