Septicemia

Septicemia, or bacteremia, is another illness parents will want to learn to recognize the symptoms of. It is associated with the gram-negative bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci. Symptoms include fever, chills, a rapid heartbeat, and rapid breathing.

Septicemia, left untreated, may lead to organ failure or septic shock which has a mortality rate of as much as 60% among people having autoimmune problems. Patients without an autoimmune problem have a mortality rate closer to 5%.

The body has a variety of bacteria within the intestinal tract which pose no threat. However, once they enter the bloodstream, they can wreak havoc by developing into an overwhelming infection. The most common causes of septicemia include having a surgical procedure, urinary catheters, knife or bullet wound, or getting infected fecal matter into a wound.

Diagnosis of septicemia will come through a visit to the doctor where they’ll take your medical history, a physical examination, and blood tests to determine the offending infectious agent.

Treatment is normally aggressive and may vary depending upon the underlying infection, how far the septicemia has progressed, the overall health of the person, and any other disease present. Normally treatment will include antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and blood pressure medications depending upon whether low blood pressure or shock develops.

No parent wants to see their child affected by serious health conditions such as bacterial meningitis or septicemia. Unfortunately, children of all ages are affected by both of these conditions each year. Learning to recognize the symptoms of meningitis and septicemia in children will enable you to get medical treatment as soon as possible so treatment can begin and your child can begin their road to recovery.

The problem with being a parent and having children is that so many childhood illnesses have similar symptoms. You may not know if your child simply has a cold, the flu, or something more serious. It’s important to learn the symptoms of meningitis and septicemia in children to ensure you can make the best decisions for the sake of your child.

Meningitis

Quick, which health condition do these symptoms sound like: fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headache? You may have said the flu. If looking only to these symptoms for diagnosis, you may not think you have anything to worry about. Unfortunately, you may be wrong. These same symptoms may be a sign of meningococcal disease, also known as bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition and mistaking the symptoms for something less serious could mean the difference between life and death. It is a condition whereby the membranes and fluids around the brain and spine become inflamed. If left untreated, a person may experience paralysis, brain damage, or even death. Early detection is important in order to treat a person and avoid these serious results.

Bacterial meningitis can develop quickly. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, headache, runny nose, and high fever, all of which could be mistaken for a simple viral infection. However, you can suspect bacterial meningitis if the following symptoms are also present:

* Skin rash
* Sensitivity to light
* Lethargy or fatigue
* Stiff neck
* Seizures

Very young children may experience jaundice, stiffness of the neck and body, poor feeding, high-pitched crying, a soft bulge at the top front of the skull, and a fever or low temperature. If you or a child has many of these symptoms at the same time, get to the doctor as quickly as you can.

Meningitis can be found in three forms: bacterial, viral, and fungal. Bacterial meningitis is the most well-known and is potentially life threatening. Viral and fungal meningitis, while not as well-known or as serious, are still medical conditions you may want to learn about. Learning about meningitis treatment options, for all forms, will allow you to discuss those options intelligently with the attending physician.

Normal symptoms associated with meningitis include fever, headache, and stiff neck which begin very quickly. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting as well as sensitivity to light and fatigue.

Bacterial meningitis is also characterized by severe aches or pain in the muscles and joint along with rapid breathing, diarrhea, and a skin rash. Viral meningitis has many of the same symptoms of bacterial meningitis and may be caused by the enteroviruses which appear most often in the summer and fall. Fungal meningitis is probably the least well-known as the symptoms occur over a period of time rather than quickly or within a day or two of contact. People with fungal meningitis may have the other symptoms associated with the condition as well as hallucinations or personality changes.

It doesn’t matter which form you think might be present – if you think someone in your family has meningitis, it is important to be seen by a physician as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment are the best ways to ensure the patient will be able to overcome the condition and regain their health. Left untreated, bacterial meningitis can result in paralysis, brain damage, or even death.

Treatment for the various types of meningitis will be different. The doctor will want to perform a spinal tap which is a needle placed near the spine where they can remove some of the liquid to make an accurate diagnosis. The spinal tap is similar to the procedure of placing an epidural during delivery and is considered safe, although the thought of having a needle placed in the spine may be unnerving.

The doctor will admit the patient to hospital to perform the spinal tap. If bacterial meningitis is confirmed, expect the patient to remain in hospital until the infection is completely gone.

Antibiotics will be the first course of treatment for bacterial meningitis as soon as diagnosis is confirmed. They may use ceftriaxone and vancomycin. Doctors may also prescribe liquids to keep the patient from becoming dehydrated. By catching the infection early on, getting it properly diagnosed, and beginning treatment, there’s less than 15% chance of serious side effects or death.

Viral meningitis will not respond to antibiotics and in most cases, except those which are severe, hospitalization isn’t necessary. In fact, there isn’t a specific treatment for viral meningitis, but treating the patient as if they had the flu may help them feel better. This includes getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and taking pain relievers for the pain. Expect the patient to recover within 7 to 10 days.

Fungal meningitis will require hospitalization as the antifungal medications must be administered in an IV drip. If the patient’s immune system is otherwise healthy, they may respond well and be released quickly. Those with an impaired immune system such as those with AIDS, diabetes, or cancer, may need longer treatment.

Be aware that being around patients with any form of meningitis may increase your own chances of being affected. Doctors will ask you to pay attention to anyone else developing symptoms so treatment can begin as soon as possible. Even though you’ve learned about meningitis treatment options, you probably hope you’ll never have to use them.
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Meningitis, or at least some forms of it, can easily transmitted by coughing or kissing. You can also get meningitis by sharing a drinking glass or sharing items which have been in or around the mouth of someone who is infected. This could be lipstick, cigarettes, or eating after one another, for example, sharing a piece of pizza or a sandwich.

How do you know if you or your child has viral meningitis or the more serious form of bacterial meningitis? Only a doctor will be able make that determination.

The symptoms are similar, which is why it’s so important to see a doctor when you or your child develops them. You may not need the same level of care when having the milder form, but if treatment isn’t started immediately with the bacterial form, the person could develop brain damage, have a stroke, or possibly die.

Many people think meningitis is a condition reserved for children and teens. However, anyone can get meningitis, although it is often spread among children and teens because they are in close proximity in schools and are more likely to share items. (The Pulitzer prize winning author Frank McCourt recently passed away from meningitis he had contracted while in a hospice).

There is a vaccine available for children against meningitis, and due to its serious and life-threatening nature, many parents choose this option and have their child inoculated.

Vaccines provide protection against meningitis, and there are two types available. One is designed for people between the ages of 2 to 55. The other version is available for people over the age of 55.

The vaccines will not provide life-long protection, but will last up to eight years. That’s why most doctors recommend being vaccinate, when the likelihood of contracting the condition is highest.

Treatment includes antibiotic treatment which is effective 90% of the time. Obviously, the sooner treatment is administered, the better the chance of a full recovery. If they determine viral meningitis is the culprit, treatment can be as simple as treating a cold or the flu. Get bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, and treat any pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever.

When you understand the dangers of meningitis, it’s easy to see how important knowledge of the symptoms is. You may not think you have to worry about you or a child contracting meningitis, but it’s good to consider getting them inoculated. Or, if you chose not to, then it is good to know the symptoms so you’ll recognize them should the unthinkable happen.

There have been commercials on television recently showing what life is like for a child before they contract meningitis. Many people don’t even consider this to be a possibility and don’t realize the dangers of meningitis, and how quickly it can not only affect a person, but kill.

What is meningitis and what are the risks associated with it?

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the brain and in the spine, and can be a very serious condition. At times it is deadly. Many people are still unaware of this condition and how dangerous it can be. The condition can develop rapidly, often within just a few hours of being around someone with meningitis, or it can take up to two days.

As the TV commercials show, even a simple thing like sharing food or kissing can spread the disease. Young people in particular are at risk due to their close proximity in schools (the same as the flu) and lack of awareness of the disease, or appropriate precautions against the disease.

There are two forms of meningitis: bacterial and viral. Neither is a good condition to have, but bacterial meningitis can result in brain damage and even death.

Many symptoms of meningitis are similar to other illnesses – nausea, headache, high fever, and vomiting – so a parent might mistake them for something else.

However, add the symptoms of being very sensitive to light and having a stiff neck, and an immediate trip to the doctor or even the hospital emergency room should planned to get diagnosis and treatment.

While bacterial meningitis can be treated successfully with antibiotics, it can’t be treated without an early diagnosis.

Diagnosis is made by inserting a needle into the spine and removing a small amount of fluid from around the spine. This spinal tap will provide the necessary evidence to make an accurate diagnosis.