The first signs and dangerous symptoms of meningitis in children, treatment tactics and preventive measures. Meningitis in childhood: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Meningitis is inflammatory process membranes of the brain or spinal cord. An infectious disease - it is infection of the body by a certain bacterium that leads to the formation purulent cavities in the brain.

Among newborns and infants, meningitis is quite common; if treatment is not started immediately, complications and serious consequences may occur, in the worst case, the child dies.

Features of the disease in newborn infants

In newborn infants, it most often develops as a result of birth trauma, prematurity or sepsis.

Often the infection enters through the umbilical vessels or placenta during the mother's illness with pyelitis or pyelocystitis during pregnancy. Infectious agents: streptococci, staphylococci and E. coli, other types of bacteria are rare.

Meningitis in infants is characterized by a severe form of the disease, dehydration, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, and the absence of high fever.

Severe excitability or complete lethargy - these manifestations are similar to other pathologies, so the diagnosis can be confirmed in a hospital setting with the help of a sample for examination cerebrospinal fluid.

It is not always possible to completely cure such a small patient. They have large percentage complications in the form of central nervous system disorders:

• mental retardation;
• limbs and cranial nerves.

These kids for a long time are under the supervision of specialists and undergo regular examinations to avoid re-infection.

Danger of disease

Meningitis in infants from birth to one year is very dangerous because half of the cases of the disease end in death, and the other half, having recovered from the disease, receive complications leading to disability: deafness, blindness, mental retardation.

After treatment, the baby begins long-term rehabilitation, the first 2 years of which he must be under the constant supervision of specialists, since there is a risk of occurrence - a complication can develop at any age and lead to sharp deterioration child's health.

The danger of this disease is also that the child does not always have severe symptoms, For example, high temperature. This is due to the lack of established temperature regulation. Therefore, if symptoms similar to meningitis occur, immediately call an ambulance rather than self-medicate.

Risk factors

In a newborn baby, meningitis develops as an independent disease; the cause of its occurrence is infection in the infant’s body. The most common pathogens in this case are staphylococcus, E. coli and streptococcus.

There is a high likelihood of the disease in those children who have suffered damage to the central nervous system before or during childbirth. If the child is weakened immune system or a pathology has developed in utero, the child is at greater risk of developing meningitis.

At risk are children born ahead of schedule. Statistics show that meningitis affects boys more often than girls.

Features of the clinical picture

The clinical picture of meningitis in newborns is manifested by general neurological symptoms:

• lethargy;
• decreased motor activity;
• drowsiness;
• frequent regurgitation and vomiting;
• breast refusal;
• breathing with a groan and signs of suffocation.

Children weighing more than 2 kilograms may suffer from rapid promotion temperatures up to 39 degrees. In infants, signs of meningitis can be seen in swelling and increased pulsation of the fontanel, convulsions and throwing the head back.

In premature babies and those with low weight, the clinical picture may look different, proceed in a sluggish form and manifest itself only at the height of the disease. This concerns the absence of bulging and pulsation of the fontanelle, and tilting of the head. This “erased” clinic occurs with children who were born prematurely and received antibiotics from birth.

The disease can develop rapidly, or it can be protracted, depending on the age, weight and condition of the child. This creates difficulties in diagnosing, but correct diagnosis possible by performing a spinal tap.

Types of disease

Infants most often develop the following types meningitis:

1. – occurs against the background of influenza, measles, chickenpox and paratitis, so it is difficult to diagnose.
2. Fungal– occurs in newborns born prematurely and in children with weakened immune systems. A child runs the risk of contracting it right in the maternity hospital if hygiene rules are not followed.
3. – occurs most often, caused by any purulent inflammation if an infection has penetrated. With blood, it reaches the membranes of the brain and creates purulent foci. Purulent meningitis in newborns is formed when infected with such types of bacteria as Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus and pneumococcus. In 70% of cases, infection occurs with meningococcal infection, which can be transmitted by airborne droplets, through the mouth or nose and from there into the blood. Large quantity bacteria entering the blood causes swift current illness and after 10-12 hours the child may die.

All types of disease require different methods treatments that a doctor should prescribe after making an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosis and differentiation

Diagnosis of meningitis in a newborn is carried out based on identified symptoms and blood sampling for general, biochemical analysis And PCR research.

A puncture is also performed to collect cerebrospinal fluid for examination, and a diagnosis is made based on the presence of an inflammatory process.

For special and advanced cases may be carried out computed tomography, and it is also prescribed for differential diagnosis. It is necessary to identify the causative agent of the disease in order to select the appropriate antibiotic for the treatment of meningitis.

Differential diagnosis is carried out according to signs that are specific to this type of meningitis. For example, it manifests itself with an acute onset, vomiting, high fever, and convulsions and impaired consciousness appear later.

Moreover, in the absence of pathology internal organs There are meningococci in the baby's blood and an increase in protein in the cerebrospinal fluid. So, all types of meningitis have their own characteristic symptoms, which are used to determine an accurate diagnosis.

A special approach to therapy

It is important to know that treatment of meningitis occurs only in a hospital setting. Do not self-medicate or use folk remedies. Therapy should begin by establishing the cause of the disease.

In case bacterial infection antibiotics are used wide range, well passing through the BBB (blood-brain barrier):

• Ceftriaxone;
• Cefotaxime;
• Gentamicin;
• Amoxicillin and other similar drugs.

Medications are administered in maximum doses for a long course, changing them after 12 weeks. If the disease is viral or fungal, then antiviral or antifungal agents. Intravenous injections.

The baby is also given detoxification, anticonvulsant and dehydration therapy. If it occurs, Dexamethasone is used.

For viral or fungal infection the baby recovers in one to two weeks. Bacterial meningitis in infants takes much longer to treat and depends on the severity of the disease and the body’s resistance to the disease.

Severe consequences and poor prognosis

This dangerous disease for newborns the outcome is not always favorable; complications always occur in young children, even
long-term therapy in this case is powerless, the consequences are disorders in the central nervous system, lag in mental development, deafness, blindness, bleeding disorder.

Within two years there is a risk of a brain abscess.

In the case of the disease in infants, mortality rates reach 30% and 65% if it is formed.

The prognosis for meningitis of all types depends on the cause of the disease and the form of its course. Bacterial meningitis occurs in acute form and may end in the death of the baby. Even if the baby survives, he will still have complications that last a long time.

Such a child remains registered with pediatricians and infectious disease specialists for a long time and undergoes regular examinations. If the disease occurred in mild form, then the child recovers in a few weeks without consequences.

Viral meningitis occurs in a milder form and goes away within 2 weeks if treatment is started in a timely manner.

What can be done for prevention?

For prevention purposes, babies born severely weakened must be vaccinated. Since various forms The disease has many, even vaccination cannot guarantee protection against meningitis.

Viral meningitis spreads by airborne droplets and in order to avoid becoming infected, it is necessary to maintain personal hygiene and heat-treat food and objects that are used by all family members.

When there are patients with acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections in the family, then small child must be isolated from the patient. All family members should use Interferon three times a day for a week - this will also reduce the risk of infection.

Also, for prevention, you should drink a complex of vitamins and minerals, eat fortified foods, do not get too cold and do not walk in crowded places. This will help protect the family from contracting meningitis, including the newborn baby.

In the case of meningitis, the main thing is to quickly begin treatment, this is what will help avoid the death of a newborn child and help him recover and increase his chances of survival. Experts say that proper nutrition And good immunity will help your child avoid illness.

By its nature, meningitis is an infectious and inflammatory disease that affects the membranes of the spinal cord and brain, causing severe consequences, even death. The development of meningitis is always preceded by exposure to children's body meningococcal infection, which leads to the formation of purulent-inflammatory foci in the brain.

Meningitis is very common among newborns and infants in the first year of life, which is why it is considered one of the diseases that lead to infant mortality. Only the timely diagnosis and lightning-fast treatment.

Features of meningitis during the neonatal period

Among the kids infancy most common purulent meningitis, which is a consequence of sepsis, birth trauma, and prematurity. Infectious agents of this disease penetrate into the baby’s body through the placenta from a sick mother, as well as through the vessels of the umbilical cord.

The causative agents of this disease are staphylococci, streptococci and Escherichia coli. Meningitis that occurs during the neonatal period and in the first year of life is characterized by a severe course, which is accompanied by dysfunction gastrointestinal tract, as well as dehydration of the child’s body.

Important! Meningitis is so serious illness, which, occurring during the neonatal period or in the first year of life, leads to death in 50% of cases. The survival rate for adults is at least 90%.

Causes and risk factors

The main cause of this disease during infancy and the first year of life is the entry of streptococci, staphylococci or E. coli into the child's body. These infectious pathogens are spread by hematogenous and lymphogenous routes throughout all organs and tissues, entering the membranes of the spinal cord and brain, with the subsequent development of infectious and inflammatory foci. There are risk factors, the presence of which increases the likelihood of developing meningitis in the neonatal period.

These factors include:

• Injuries during the birth process;
• Decline protective forces baby's body;
• Immunodeficiency conditions;
• Presence of intrauterine pathology;
• Prematurity and low birth weight;
• Male gender.

Each of these factors can indirectly influence the risk level of meningitis before the age of 1 year.

Symptoms

Statistics on the incidence of meningitis in the first year of life indicate that this pathology is more common in newborn boys. This trend is due to the fact that girls are by nature more resilient than boys.

The development of this infectious-inflammatory disease is indicated by the following nonspecific symptoms:

• Lethargy and passivity of the child;
• Heavy and rare breathing;
• Yellowness of the skin;
• A sharp increase or decrease in the baby’s body temperature;
• Increased emotional excitability;
• Vomiting and refusal to breastfeed;
• Convulsive twitching of the upper and lower limbs.

At least 25% of children in the first year of life who develop meningitis experience the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid between the membranes of the brain. It is not difficult to notice this process, since the child’s fontanel begins to bulge. One more characteristic symptom This infectious-inflammatory disease is characterized by severe tension in the neck muscles, as a result of which the child makes frequent attempts to turn his head and cries a lot.

One of dangerous complications meningitis is an irreversible lesion nerve trunks, innervating the facial and ocular muscles. With this condition, the child experiences protrusion or retraction eyeballs. If the infectious process is accompanied by the accumulation of purulent contents in the skull, then this process causes intense headache and severe tearfulness.

Meningitis is characterized by a rapid increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees. The sick baby suffers from fever and chills. The use of antipyretic medications in children with this disease does not lead to a decrease in body temperature.

If the baby’s parents notice changes in the child’s condition and behavior, then they should closely monitor the baby. If the baby tries to lower his head below the level of the pillow, then this symptom indicates an increase in intracranial pressure with subsequent development of headache. In addition to the listed symptoms, changes are also noted in the behavior of the baby.

Regardless of the type of feeding, the baby flatly refuses to breastfeed or bottle. Any touch to the child's head and neck causes him discomfort and increase crying. If the child has eaten, then after a short period of time parents may observe frequent regurgitation, which is a sign of nausea.

In severe cases of meningitis, children develop convulsions and consciousness is impaired, up to the development of coma. Whenever minimal changes Given the child’s condition and behavior, the child’s parents should immediately seek medical advice.

Diagnostics

The primary diagnosis of meningitis in newborns and children in the first year of life is carried out by a pediatrician based on the complaints made by parents, as well as information obtained during the examination of the child. For confirmation purposes clinical diagnosis a spinal puncture is indicated.

The resulting cerebrospinal fluid is sent to laboratory test in order to identify signs of inflammation, as well as detect pathogens of the infectious process. In laboratory conditions, the PCR diagnostic technique is used, as well as a biochemical blood test.

IN in rare cases To confirm the diagnosis, the baby is prescribed magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, which allows identifying areas of accumulation of purulent-inflammatory contents, as well as other structural changes, characteristic of meningitis.

Treatment

Therapy for this infectious and inflammatory disease is carried out in a hospital setting. Any attempts at self-medication at home are fraught with a deterioration in the general condition, even leading to death. If the infectious process was provoked bacterial infection, then the baby is prescribed antibacterial medications that effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Such drugs include:

• Cefotaxime;
• Ceftriaxone;
• Amoxicillin;
• Gentamicin.

A child with meningitis requires immediate attention. medication assistance, therefore mentioned antibacterial agents prescribed over a long course in maximum therapeutic dosages. Except antibacterial therapy the baby is given detoxification measures, anticonvulsants and diuretics. If, against the background of an infectious-inflammatory process, a child is diagnosed with swelling of the brain substance, then he is administered Dexamethasone.

Unlike fungal or viral meningitis (which is rare), a bacterial disease is different severe course and necessity long-term therapy.

Consequences

A severe infectious and inflammatory process that affects the membranes of the child’s spinal cord and brain does not pass without leaving a trace on the child’s body. The main consequences of meningitis in the first year of life include:

• Development of epilepsy;
• Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebral ventricles (hydrocephalus);
• Paralysis to varying degrees heaviness;
• Mental retardation;
• Paresis of cranial nerves.

In 80% of cases, the consequences of meningitis in the first year of life are extremely negative. With timely and long-term treatment of this disease, the baby remains at high risk of developing a brain abscess for 2 years. That is why children who have had meningitis are regularly monitored by pediatricians, infectious disease doctors and neurologists. Other consequences of this disease include impaired visual acuity, complete or partial deafness.

Prevention

If a newborn child has one of the risk factors for infection with meningitis pathogens, then medical specialists prefer to carry out a number of preventive measures that can protect the child’s body from the development of such a serious disease. The following recommendations will help reduce the risk of illness:

1. Before any contact with a newborn baby, each family member should wash their hands thoroughly with soap. Items for caring for a newborn baby, children's toys, as well as dishes and clothes for the baby should be processed in accordance with hygienic standards;
2. If one of the family members suffers from ARVI, then the baby is isolated from the infected person. In addition, each family member must take pharmaceutical Interferon for 7 days;
3. A child of the first year of life must be protected from being in crowded places;
4. When going for a walk, it is important to dress your baby in accordance with weather conditions and temperature indicators. Our article will tell you how to do this correctly.

Meningitis in newborns occurs as a result of pathogenic microflora entering the membranes of the brain. This is a disease in the absence early diagnosis And complex treatment can provoke the development of mass side effects on the newborn’s body, including death. The risk group includes children who have autoimmune diseases, as well as pathologically weakened immunity.

Meningitis is an infectious and inflammatory disease that is provoked by pathogenic microorganisms of a bacterial, viral and fungal nature. The disease is preceded by a weakened immune system, which does not allow timely fight against pathogenic microorganisms, which contributes to a rapid increase in their numbers. Together with the blood flow, they are carried to all tissues and organs, penetrating the meninges.

The disease develops at lightning speed, in most cases causing death. The pathogenesis of meningitis is caused by birth trauma, sepsis and the presence of pathogenic microflora in the mother’s blood, which enters the newborn’s body during childbirth.

A feature of the disease during the neonatal period is:

1. Impossibility of early diagnosis.
2. Lightning current.
3. The presence of complications in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Severe dehydration, which inhibits kidney function.

Mortality occurs in 50% of cases, so the health of the newborn should be carefully monitored, avoiding contact with sick patients. Against the background of unformed immunity, the risks of infection remain high up to 1 year of life.

Causes

The inflammatory process of the meninges develops due to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the child’s body: streptococci, staphylococci, meningococci, E. coli. With the bloodstream, these bacteria spread throughout the body, forming inflammatory foci in the brain and spinal cord.

The body of a newborn does not have its own immunity, so any bacteria, even conditionally pathogenic ones, can cause enormous harm. Most often, infection occurs during delivery or surgery, which is performed in the first weeks of life.

At-risk groups

Statistics show that the incidence of meningitis among newborns is due to factors such as:

1. The male sex means girls' bodies are stronger.
2. Birth injuries provoke disruption of normal blood flow, as well as the entry of pathogenic microflora into the body.
3. The presence of intrauterine pathologies - diseases of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract, which develop at the stage of fetal formation, do not allow the formation of immunity.
4. Immunodeficiency conditions in which immunity is completely absent.
5. Necessity long time use glucocorticosteroids and other hormonal drugs.
6. Development of sepsis, which requires long-term antibacterial treatment.

Most often, meningitis is diagnosed in premature newborns. Children born before 35 weeks in the presence of an infectious bacterial infection die in almost 90% of cases.

Symptoms of pathology

Symptoms of meningitis in newborns are similar to those respiratory disease:

1. Body temperature rises to 39-40 °. The child becomes lethargic and apathetic. He sleeps most of the day.
2. Heavy and rare breathing, associated with the appearance of yellowness of the skin.
3. Lack of urination for 4-5 hours, which indicates severe dehydration.
4. Refusal to eat and vomiting after eating it.
5. Limb spasms that intensify when the child actively cries.

These symptoms should alert parents, as they are harbingers of a dangerous condition.

If they are ignored, the focus of the brain lesion increases, which provokes the development of symptoms specific to meningitis:

1. Stiffness in the muscles of the back of the head - when a child is laid on his tummy, he tries to throw his head back and roll over on his side.
2. Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid - the fontanelle begins to bulge and pulsate pathologically, and the skin in its area becomes hot.
3. Inability to stabilize body temperature - no antipyretic drugs can normalize temperature.
4. Soreness of the head and neck muscles - any touching or stroking the skin causes sharp pain, which is accompanied by crying and irritability.
5. Tearfulness when rocked - the child begins to cry hysterically when rocked, which is explained by an increase in intracranial pressure and increased headaches.
6. Whole body spasms that cause paralysis of individual parts of the body - indicates damage nerve fibers and requires immediate hospitalization.
7. Comatose state - the child does not respond to any mechanical stimuli. His breathing and pulse are irregular. Requires immediate implementation resuscitation measures, the absence of which causes death.

The diagnosis is made based on the results of an examination of the child and an assessment of the parents’ complaints. The final stage involves the following research methods:

1. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid - puncture helps determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of the cerebrospinal fluid, which contains pathogenic microorganisms. Having identified the pathogen, you can choose the most optimal treatment.
2. MRI and CT - show foci of meningitis (there may be several of them), the degree of damage to the meninges, as well as general condition baby's body.
3. Angiography – prescribed for suspected development of large lesions involving blood vessels and nerve endings.

Drug therapy involves the use of antibiotics that can neutralize the activity of the meningitis pathogen. This:

• Ceftriaxone;
• Cefazolin;
• Amoxicillin;
• Cefotaxime;
• Cefix.

The choice of drug depends on which pathogen causes the inflammatory process. The child’s body is supported with vitamins, hepatoprotectors, and agents to reduce irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Detoxification involves the administration of lytic solutions that replenish the volume of freely circulating blood, as well as the prescription of diuretics that help remove fluid from the body. In cases where the kidneys are damaged, hemodialysis may be prescribed. This procedure facilitates the work of the paired organ, enhancing cleansing functions. This helps eliminate waste and toxins, normalizing the body's metabolic processes.

In the presence of damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, antipsychotics and nootropics are prescribed. They strengthen and restore connections between neurons, which helps restore sensitivity. Convulsions stop anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants.

An advanced form of meningitis requires surgery, as a result of which all foci of the inflammatory process are sanitized. After the procedure, the child’s condition rapidly improves, and the risks of development negative consequences decreases.

The duration of treatment directly depends on the degree of damage to the meninges, as well as the speed of diagnostic measures.

It is strictly forbidden to treat meningitis at home. The wrong medicine can be ineffective and life-threatening for the newborn. Only a doctor is able to correctly diagnose and select the optimal treatment plan.

Complications

Unfortunately, in most cases, the child’s body is not able to avoid the development of complications, which include:

• epilepsy and other mental problems;
• paralysis of various parts of the body;
• hydrocephalus;
• visual impairment;
• deafness;
• mental retardation.

In the absence of adequate treatment in as soon as possible disability develops. The child will not be able to become a full-fledged member of society and needs additional support.

Prevention

It is completely impossible to prevent the development of the disease. The body of a newborn is unpredictable. Only monitoring the child’s condition and behavior, as well as timely consultation with a doctor, will help avoid unwanted consequences.

You can reduce the risk of infection in your baby by adhering to the following rules:

• limit the baby’s contact with strangers;
• exclude contacts with sick family members;
• in the presence of a respiratory disease, treat the child in a hospital setting under the close supervision of doctors;
• dress the child correctly, avoiding hypothermia and overheating;
• minimize visits public places up to 1 year.

A child under one year of age must visit a pediatrician monthly, who is required to perform a full examination. If there are deviations, you should consult with more highly specialized specialists.

Forecast

In 50% of all cases of meningitis detected in newborns, death occurs. The process of development of brain swelling occurs very quickly, so everything is vital important functions are rapidly fading away.

With a favorable outcome, there is a high risk of complications and negative consequences. 2-3 years after recovery, the child is periodically examined by an infectious disease specialist and pediatrician, as the risks of re-infection remain.

Meningitis is an inflammatory process in the lining of the brain, triggered by infection in the body. Due to the fact that this disease can occur in patients of absolutely all age categories, meningitis can also affect newly born children.

It is extremely important for the child’s parents to understand the prerequisites of the disease, to be able to identify its symptoms, in order to know how to behave correctly when the disease manifests itself. It is worth learning more about the causes and consequences of meningitis in newborns. Reviews about the course of the disease are completely different. But, if it is treated in a timely manner, the risk of complications and consequences can be reduced.

Danger of meningitis

Meningitis in infants from the moment of birth until one year of age is very dangerous because in 30% of cases the disease is fatal. Complications of the pathology can also lead to disability: hearing impairment, vision impairment, and mental retardation. After long-term therapy, the child also has serious threat the appearance of an abscess in the brain. Complications can develop at any time, so the baby must be under constant medical supervision for 2 years.

The threat of this disease also lies in the fact that children do not always show pronounced signs of pathology, for example, high fever. The reason for this is the lack of developed thermoregulation in infants. Therefore, for any symptoms similar to meningitis, you should immediately call ambulance and not indulge in self-medication.

Risk factors

In infants, this disease develops as an independent disease. The cause of meningitis in newborns is the penetration of infection into the body. The most common pathogens in in this case: staphylococcus, streptococcus and intestinal infections. High risk The disease exists in children with damage to the central nervous system that occurred before or at the time of birth. And if the baby has a weakened immune system or has intrauterine pathology, then the risk of meningitis also increases significantly. Babies born prematurely are also at risk.

Statistics show that meningitis occurs more often in boys than in girls.

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis in newborns are most often non-specific. At the same time, in children, slowness is noticeable, from time to time giving way to anxiety, appetite decreases, they reject the chest and regurgitate. There are following symptoms meningitis in infants:

• pale skin;
• acrocyanosis (blue-violet tone of the tip of the nose, earlobes);
• bloating;
• signs of increased intracranial pressure (tense or bulging fontanelle, increased head volume, vomiting).

In addition to those mentioned, doctors also note such signs of meningitis in newborns as shuddering, floating movement of the eyeballs, hyperesthesia, and the occurrence of convulsions.

Signs of later stages

Rigidity of the neck muscles ( painful sensations when trying to tilt the head towards the chest), usually occurs on late stages diseases. At the same time, neurologists detect the following signs in an infant with meningitis:

1. Babinski reflex. With streak irritation of the sole along outside feet from heel to toe thumb an involuntary outward bending of the thumb and plantar flexion of the remaining fingers occurs (this reflex is physiological until the age of two).
2. Kernig's sign. If the child is lying on his back, then the doctor cannot straighten his leg, bent at the knee and hip joints, at a right angle (up to 4-6 months of life, this reflex is considered physiological).
3. Lasègue reflex. If the baby straightens his leg in hip joint, then it cannot be bent more than 70 degrees.

In infants, to diagnose meningitis, doctors rely on general clinical picture in combination with manifestations of Flatau's syndrome - enlargement of the pupils with a sharp tilt of the head forward, and Lessage - pressing the baby's legs towards the tummy in a suspended state.

Types of disease

The following types of meningitis most often develop in newborns:

• Viral - appears against the background of influenza, measles, chickenpox and paratitis, for this reason it is difficult to recognize.
• Fungal - occurs in babies born prematurely and in children with weakened immune systems. The baby runs the risk of becoming infected directly if hygiene rules are violated.
• Bacterial is the most commonly diagnosed type. It is caused by various purulent inflammations, if an infection has occurred. With blood, it reaches the layers of the brain and forms purulent foci.

Purulent meningitis in newborns occurs when infected with such types of microorganisms as Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus and pneumococcus. In 70% of cases, infection occurs with meningococcal infection. It occurs by airborne droplets through the nose or mouth. As a rule, such a disease develops rapidly, and after 8-12 hours the baby may die.

All types of disease require in various ways treatment, which the doctor must determine by establishing the correct diagnosis.

Cerebrospinal fluid examination

If a disease is suspected, a lumbar puncture is performed in newborns. The diagnosis can be proven or excluded only on the basis of a study of cerebrospinal fluid. So, with acute purulent meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid, dull or opalescent, flows under high pressure, stream or rapid drops. A huge number of neutrophils can be found in it. In addition to significant neutrophilic cytosis, purulent meningitis is characterized by an increase in protein levels and low glucose saturation.

In order to establish the type of pathogen, a bacterioscopic and bacteriological study of the liquor sediment is carried out. The analysis of this fluid is repeated every 4-5 days until the newborn is completely recovered.

Rare form

Tuberculous meningitis It is very rare in newly born children. Bacterioscopic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid in this type of meningitis can give a negative result. Tuberculous meningitis is characterized by precipitation within 12-24 hours in the collected cerebrospinal fluid sample while standing. In 80% of cases, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is detected in the sediment.

Bacterioscopic examination of cerebrospinal fluid in cases of suspected meningococcal or streptococcal meningitis is considered a simple and accurate express diagnostic method.

Stages

At meningococcal meningitis the disease goes through a number of stages:

• first, the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid increases;
• then a small number of neutrophils are detected in the cerebrospinal fluid;
• later changes characteristic of purulent meningitis are noted.

Therefore, in approximately every third case, the cerebrospinal fluid examined in the first hours of the disease looks normal. In the case of improper therapy, the fluid becomes purulent, the concentration of neutrophils in it increases, and the protein level increases up to 1-16 g/l. Its saturation in the cerebrospinal fluid reflects the severity of the disease. With appropriate therapy, the volume of neutrophils decreases and they are replaced by lymphocytes.

Treatment

Pediatricians, neurologists and other doctors draw up personal treatment regimens for meningitis in infants. The direction of treatment depends on whether it is viral or purulent, the type of pathogen and the severity of the symptoms. Doctors select doses individually medicines depending on the weight and age of the newborn.

Viral

For viral meningitis, dehydration therapy with diuretics is performed to reduce intracranial pressure. Anticonvulsants and antiallergic drugs are prescribed, which reduce the body's sensitivity to toxins and allergens. In addition, the child needs antipyretic and painkillers, as well as antiviral drugs and immunoglobulin. In most cases, babies recover within 1-2 weeks.

Bacterial

For bacterial meningitis in newborns, antibiotic therapy is used, to which various types of microorganisms are susceptible. Since the study of cerebrospinal fluid taken during puncture takes 3-4 days, empirical therapy with bactericidal substances begins immediately after blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The results of the express study can be obtained within 2 hours. When determining the causative agent of infection, medications are prescribed to which the detected microorganisms are more susceptible. If the baby’s condition does not improve at all 48 hours after the start of antimicrobial therapy, a secondary puncture is performed to clarify the diagnosis.

Meningitis in newborns caused by Haemophilus influenzae bacillus can be prevented by vaccination. used in Russian Federation, is administered to children from 2-3 months. And from the age of one and a half years, babies are vaccinated against meningococcal infection with our meningococcal A and A+C vaccine. Registered in the Russian Federation imported vaccine MENINGO A+S is injected into newborns if someone in the family has a similar infection.

Meningitis in newly born children is most dangerous. Its results for infants may be unpredictable, so at the first doubt about the child’s well-being, you should consult a doctor. Only the help of a professional will help protect the life and health of the newborn.

Prevention

Preventive measures will make it possible to avoid the development of meningitis in children:

1. If the baby was born weak, he should be vaccinated against of this disease. Although vaccination does not provide absolute safety from germs and infections, it significantly increases it.
2. To prevent the child from getting sick viral meningitis, you should adhere to hygiene rules and do not use your own items to care for the child.
3. If a relative who is ill stays in the same area of ​​residence as the baby viral disease, he should be limited from communicating with the baby.
4. The room must be regularly ventilated.
5. You cannot overcool a child, just as you cannot overheat. It is necessary to dress it according to the weather.
6. After consulting a doctor, it is allowed to give the baby complex vitamin complexes and minerals.
7. At breastfeeding the mother is obliged to eat correctly and comprehensively. Through her body the child receives a variety of nutrients that can help cope with illnesses.
8. If any deviations in the baby's behavior or well-being occur, you should immediately contact a doctor.

To date, there is no reliable means to protect newly born children from meningitis. Experts say that only children with strong immunity can protect themselves from the disease. For this reason, mothers should take care during pregnancy own food and organize the right lifestyle.

Let's sum it up

Meningitis in a newborn child is especially dangerous; its outcome for babies is in most cases negative. As already mentioned, children who have had the disease remain at risk of developing a brain abscess; for this reason, the baby is required to undergo constant examinations by a pediatrician for another 2 years. The consequences of meningitis in newborns even after long-term treatment Serious visual and hearing impairment may occur. The child may be developmentally delayed, suffer from bleeding disorders, hydrocephalus, and central nervous system disorders.

The prognosis for the described pathology depends on the cause and severity of the disease, as well as on the adequacy of the treatment provided.

Inflammatory process in meninges(purulent meningitis) occupies a leading place among diseases of the central nervous system in newborns. The disease is a severe infectious process that can lead to disability and death of the newborn. Often purulent meningitis was not recognized immediately, the child was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute respiratory viral infection, enterocolitis, and some children had local infectious processes upon admission to the hospital.

The Yusupov Hospital provides treatment and diagnosis of diseases and subsequent complications. The hospital's best neurologists treat hydrocephalus and other central nervous system diseases. Studies of cerebrospinal fluid and blood, other studies can be done at diagnostic center hospitals. The clinic accepts patients aged 18+.

Meningitis in newborns: consequences

The infectious process is mainly localized in the arachnoid and pia mater of the brain. Often, a newborn has a disruption of the cerebrospinal fluid tract - this condition leads to excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system of the brain, and occlusive hydrocephalus develops.

Meningitis in newborns is severe, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, dehydration of the body occurs, and often meningitis occurs without fever. The prognosis of the disease in newborns is disappointing - very often meningitis leads to death; children who have had meningitis may develop epilepsy, mental retardation, paresis of cranial nerves, limbs, paralysis, hydrocephalus, deterioration or total loss vision and hearing, other complications.

Meningitis in premature babies: consequences

Prematurity is one of the factors contributing to the development of neonatal meningitis. About 80% of newborns with meningitis are premature babies. The reason for the tendency of premature babies to become infected and develop meningitis is the low resistance of the fetal body to life outside the mother’s body, its morphofunctional immaturity. In some cases, due to mild symptoms, meningitis in premature infants is not diagnosed in a timely manner. Often missing neurological symptoms or they appear much later, at the height of the disease. All these features of the disease in premature infants create difficulties in diagnosing meningitis and contribute to the development of severe complications.

Bacterial meningitis in newborns: causes

Meningitis is caused by various pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi. Infection of a newborn can be intrauterine, during childbirth, or after birth. Most often, the pathogen enters the child’s body from genitourinary tract mother during pregnancy or childbirth, if the mother is a carrier of an infectious pathogen. Factors that contribute to the spread of infection to the fetus are:

• intrauterine hypoxia of the fetus or asphyxia of the newborn during childbirth.
• intrauterine fetal hypotrophy.
• prematurity.
• keeping the fetus in an anhydrous period for more than 2 hours.
• malformations of the central nervous system.
• morphofunctional immaturity of the fetus.
• decreased immunological protection of the fetus.
• Chorioamnionitis.
• intrauterine infection, infectious diseases genitourinary system mother.
• birth trauma fetal skull and other factors.

A respiratory infection often becomes the cause of the development of bacterial meningitis in a baby - through the altered mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, the infection enters the child’s bloodstream. The infection can enter the fetal blood through the placenta and umbilical vessels. In newborns, cerebrospinal meningitis (caused by meningococcus) is extremely rare; meningitis caused by streptococcus and Escherichia coli is diagnosed much more often. If bacterial meningitis developed in utero, the first symptoms appear two to three days after birth. Meningitis, which develops in a baby after birth, manifests symptoms after 20-25 days. At this point, the level of immunoglobulin G, which he received from the mother, decreases in the newborn’s blood. Immunoglobulin G contains antibodies to the meningococcal pathogen, so newborns rarely suffer from this type of meningitis.

The neurology clinic provides diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients. The hospital's neurologists have extensive experience in the treatment of central nervous system diseases in adults and carry out effective treatment and rehabilitation of children with hydrocephalus, encephalitis, seizures, epilepsy, intracranial hypertension and other diseases that often develop after meningitis. You can make an appointment with a doctor by calling the Yusupov Hospital.

References

• ICD-10 ( International classification diseases)
• Yusupov Hospital
• "Diagnostics". - Brief Medical Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1989.
• “Clinical assessment of laboratory test results”//G. I. Nazarenko, A. A. Kishkun. Moscow, 2005
• Clinical laboratory analytics. Fundamentals of clinical laboratory analysis V.V. Menshikov, 2002.

Prices for services *

*The information on the site is for informational purposes only. All materials and prices posted on the site are not a public offer, defined by the provisions of Art. 437 Civil Code of the Russian Federation. For accurate information, please contact the clinic staff or visit our clinic. List of services provided paid services indicated in the price list of the Yusupov Hospital.

*The information on the site is for informational purposes only. All materials and prices posted on the site are not a public offer, defined by the provisions of Art. 437 Civil Code of the Russian Federation. For accurate information, please contact the clinic staff or visit our clinic.