meningitis

• Meningitis symptoms?

  • Flu-like symptoms that may worsen rapidly
  • Nausea, vomiting, lethargy, muscle ache
• Ring 999 for suspected meningitis?

  • severe headache
  • stiff neck
  • altered mental state (confusion/drowsiness)
  • non-blanching rash
  • photophobia seizures
  • unconsciousness
• Immediate hospital admission is required in cases of suspected meningitis
• Treatment for meningitis

  Hospital treatment

  1. Intravenous fluids

  2. Antibiotics

  3. Antivirals where appropriate
• Counselling in meningitis?

  • plenty of rest
  • painkillers for headache
  • anti-emetics for vomitting
• meningitis causes?

  • bacterial- life threatening
  • viral causes- less serious disease with spontaneous recovery