Meningitis is a serious inflammation that affects the membrane which covers the brain and spinal cord. When this membrane, also known as the meninges, become inflamed due to bacterial or viral infection, it can be a life-threatening situation for an infant.
Identification
Identifying meningitis in infants is a little more complicated than identifying the disease in children or adults. While adults and children may complain of the prototypical symptoms of stiff neck, severe headache and chills, meningitis symptoms in babies are not as obvious. Instead, you may notice that your infant is unusually cranky or lethargic and has a fever. While these symptoms are also signs of other illnesses, when combined with other symptoms, meningitis should be a consideration. Signs to look out for include: rigidity (holding her body stiffly), especially her neck; reduced suck and swallow reflex; poor appetite; unusually high-pitched cry; and bulging of the soft spots on the baby's head.
Types
While both of the two most common types of meningitis, bacterial and viral, pose a serious risk to your infant, bacterial meningitis is much more dangerous. Without antibiotic treatment, it can often be fatal within a few days. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis come on suddenly and swiftly, while infants with viral meningitis may show symptoms of a cold, ear infection or respiratory infection prior to the onset of more severe symptoms.
Considerations
Newborns and infants are at a higher risk of contracting certain types of bacterial meningitis, not only because they are more commonly exposed to some of the bacteria, but also because they may not yet have received all the preventive immunizations. Infant meningitis is frequently attributed to Group B streptococcus infections or exposure to E.coli or listeria in milk or food products.
Prevention/Solution
There are a number of preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of meningococcal infection in infants. A mother who is known to be a carrier of Group B streptococcus should be given antibiotics while in labor in order to avoid passing on the bacteria through the birth canal. Sticking to a routine schedule of immunizations can reduce an infants' risk of contracting Hib and pneumococcus, also common causes of meningitis. Additionally, parents can talk to their pediatrician about the benefits of the meningococcal meningitis vaccine.
Warning
Unfortunately, not all cases of meningitis can be predicted or prevented, but they can be treated if diagnosed early enough. If your infant shows any of the symptoms of meningitis, it's important to get immediate medical assistance.
Tags: bacterial meningitis, your infant, bacterial viral, because they, Group streptococcus