Patients who develop seizures will require medications to halt the seizures and prevent their return.
Cryptococcal meningitis, caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, is a common opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. This fungus can cause severe meningitis characterized by headache, fever, and altered mental status. Early detection and treatment are crucial in managing this condition.
a condition that is most common in young children but is especially dangerous in the elderly. Patients develop headaches, become drowsy, and eventually comatose. Permanent brain damage is the rule unless prompt treatment is given.
Meningitis symptoms can often be confused with the common flu but tend to develop more rapidly and severely. High fever, confusion, fatigue, loss of appetite and thirst, skin rash, seizures, headache and stiffness in the neck are common symptoms of meningitis. See a doctor if you experience these symptoms suddenly.
For stage IV patients, or those that are treated and then develop recurrence at distant sites, chemotherapy or immunotherapy is planned.
Spinal meningitis is a term that is sometimes used to refer to the inflammatory condition of meningitis, but the inflammation can also affect the brain, not just the spinal cord. There are two different causes of meningitis. If it is caused by a virus, it is often less severe and individuals recover without medical treatment. If it is bacterial, it is more dangerous. Bacterial meningitis can result in permanent learning disabilities, hearing loss or brain damage.Signs and Symptoms of MeningitisReceiving an early diagnosis is essential to prevent brain damage and contaminating others since both types of meningitis are contagious. It is passed through sneezing, coughing, and direct contact, but it is harder to catch than a cold or flu. Close contact and prolonged exposures to those with meningitis increase the risk. Spinal meningitis symptoms are similar to the flu. An individual should see a physician immediately if they are experiencing any of the following:strong headachehigh fevernausea and vomitingsleepinesssensitive to bright lightsconfusion and difficulties concentratingstiff neckSpinal meningitis symptoms can develop quickly over the course of a couple of hours or they can take a few days to manifest. For infants, symptoms can be hard to detect or may be completely absent. Meningitis affects infants differently. They may not eat well, be irritable or slow, and appear sick. If meningitis continues without treatment, it can result in seizures.Treating Spinal MeningitisSome types of bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics. Knowing which type a patient has is important because treatment helps to keep meningitis from spreading and infecting others. Antibiotics greatly reduce the risk of death in all but the elderly. With early treatment, risks drop to less than 15 percent.Most meningitis is caused by a viral infection. For this type, antibiotics do not help. While viral spinal meningitis symptoms are similar to bacterial meningitis, there is no treatment. Symptoms do tend to be milder and the body's defenses enable most patients to fully recover within about two weeks. For those with weak immune systems, a hospital stay may be required.
Treatment for those patients who present with or go on to develop systemic disease usually fails; melanoma that has metastasized to the brain is particularly difficult to treat.
Antibiotics are indicated, however, for those patients who develop more severe infections, such as invasion of the bloodstream (septicemia), or who develop infections at specific sites, such as bone.
Patients with an intact immune system who develop chronic histoplasmosis are treated with the drug ketoconazole (Nizoral) or amphotericin B (Fungizone).
The prognosis depends on prompt treatment with antibiotics and drainage of the infected joint. About 70% of patients will recover without permanent joint damage. However, many patients will develop osteoarthritis.
Meningitis occurs when a viral or bacterial infection spreads to or starts in the coverings around the brain or the spinal cord, resulting in severe inflammation. In most cases, young children and young adults are the most at risk; however, anyone with a compromised immune system can develop meningitis.Viral meningitis is the most common form of this illness, and it is generally not life threatening unless complications develop. Bacterial meningitis, however, is incredibly serious and can lead to brain damage or death if not treated immediately. The symptoms for both types of meningitis are the same, although viral meningitis may come on more slowly than bacterial.Common Symptoms of MeningitisIn many cases, the symptoms of meningitis mimic those of a severe flu. Muscle aches, weakness and tingling throughout the body are exceedingly common, and oftentimes the symptoms of meningitis are mistaken for the flu at first. In addition to this, patients almost always have a fever, and may experience prolonged and debilitating headaches. The combination of headaches and a fever can lead to vomiting.A person may become confused and have difficulty staying awake, and in severe cases, seizures may occur. Perhaps the most notable sign of meningitis, however, is the inability to move the neck downwards due to pain and stiffness in the neck: this is caused by inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Some patients may also develop a rash on the skin, or experience sensitivity to light. Dizzy spells occurring when a person moves from a sitting to standing position may also occur.Symptoms of Meningitis in BabiesMeningitis can be slightly difficult to note in babies, as they cannot convey how they are feeling. However, the most common signs to watch for in young children are unusual irritability, especially when being held, and a decrease in appetite and vomiting. A baby with meningitis will often emit a high-pitched cry, and will likely develop a rash somewhere on his or her body. When a child is young enough to have an open "soft spot" on his or her head, this area may bulge out, and the baby's entire body may become stiff.
People that have MS are prone to having seizures. In fact, they between 3-6 times more likely to develop reoccurring epileptic seizures then a healthy human being.
Many patients with systemic mastocytosis also develop urticaria pigmentosa.