Some people with meningitis will get better improve without any treatment in just a few weeks. However, other people can have a life-threatening condition and require emergency antibiotic treatment. It is very important that you’re ready for any eventuality, this is so you know when to call our GP home doctor for meningitis in Manilva.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection that affects the meninges. These are the areas that cover the brain and the spinal cord.
Our GP home doctor for meningitis in Manilva explains that there are several causes of this disease. The causes can be bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Bacterial meningitis can occasionally be life-threatening and it spreads between people who are in close contact.
Viral meningitis is less severe and most people will recover from it without undergoing any treatment.
Fungal meningitis is rare and tends to affect people who have a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of meningitis
Early signs of meningitis can be similar to the flu. Symptoms can develop over 2-3 hours, or over a few days.
Below you will find a list of symptoms that can appear in over the age of 2 that our GP home doctor for meningitis in Manilva put together:
- Difficulty concentrating or confusion
- Headache in addition to vomiting or nausea
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of thirst
- Sensitivity to light
- Seizures
- Severe headache that is different to normal headaches
- Skin rash
- Stiff neck
- Sudden high fever
- Sleepiness or difficulty waking
Signs in newborns
Newborns and infants may have the following signs:
- A bump in the soft spot on top of their head (Fontanel)
- Constant crying
- Excessive sleepiness or irritability
- High fever
- Inactivity or sluggishness
- Poor feeding
- Stiffness in their body
- Stiffness in their neck
Infants with meningitis might cry harder when you hold them or they could be hard to comfort.
When to call our GP home doctor for meningitis in Manilva
Call our GP home doctor for meningitis in Manilva if you or another person has meningitis symptoms, such as:
- Confusion
- Fever
- Severe, unrelenting headache
- Stiff neck
- Vomiting
Bacterial meningitis is a very serious, and it can be fatal within days if antibiotic treatment is not administered. Delayed treatment also increases the risk of the patient suffering from permanent brain damage or even death.
You may also need to take medications to prevent yourself getting the infection so please speak to a doctor.