The meninges are three layers of protective tissue. Pia mater, arachnoid mater, and dura mater comprise the meninges, which surround both the spinal cord and brain. So then, meningismus is a syndrome that mimics the symptoms of meningitis. The condition affects far more children than adults these days, and antibiotics are often used to treat this syndrome. Most patients can and do recover from meningismus, although some cases may become severe.
What Causes Meningismus?
A variety of things can cause meningismus, including inflammation of the meninges. Intracranial pressure and brain edema may cause the syndrome as well. Also, certain infections may lead the development of the syndrome over time. Even brain injuries can lead to meningismus. The syndrome is somewhat common in children, especially those with pneumonia or the flu. For the most part, meningismus is rare in adults but can affect an individual of any age.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Meningismus
Neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, and headache are the most prominent symptoms of meningismus. However, patients may experience headache, vomiting, and dizziness as well. A patient with this syndrome may act confused or display symptoms of the flu. Children with tension headaches often have their headaches caused by meningismus. Once again, the condition only affects a small percentage of fully grown adults.
Diagnosing Meningismus In Children and Adults
Doctors may diagnose meningismus through various means. First and foremost, they’ll look for the specific warning signs of the syndrome. They’ll then perform a battery of tests, including CT scan and MRI, to make a final determination. Meningismus is a collection of side effects and symptoms, so doctors must rule out other potential causes first. For the most part, this syndrome is simple to identify and diagnose in patients.
Treatment and Management of Meningismus
Meningismus is a very treatable syndrome with a positive outlook. Doctors often treat the underlying causes of the disease and focus on reducing intracranial pressure. Typically, a lumbar puncture is performed to great effect, according to these lumbar spinal stenosis doctors from Denver. An infusion of hypertonic solutions is often recommended to reduce swelling in the brain or meninges. Various medicines and surgeries can be utilized to reduce the effects of the syndrome.
For many patients, a battery of antibiotics will work wonders for their condition.
In most cases, doctors can treat the underlying cause of meningismus and cure patients of their afflictions. More severe cases of meningismus (and the underlying cause) can be dangerous for patients, though. Swift identification of the root cause and immediate treatment of the symptoms is the best course of action to ensure patient safety. Otherwise, an untreated bout of meningismus means the underlying cause is worsening and becoming more severe.
Meningismus, in general, comes with a positive prognosis. Most patients, including young children, will recover from the underlying cause and get better. For the best results, immediate treatment is recommended above all else. Individuals displaying symptoms of this syndrome should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible. See https://www.xpertdox.com/ for more information and to learn more about treatment options.
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