I thought it was summer cold... but it could be meningitis with similar symptoms.

Summer cold symptoms are similar to meningitis..

I have given all the vaccinations for the children, but...

Vaccination is literally for prevention; it doesn't mean you won't get it 100%...

Sigh... If I have cold symptoms, I should go to the hospital first...

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[Health is the greatest] Meningococcal meningitis, 8-15% die within 2 days

The symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of a cold, making diagnosis difficult, but if not treated early, serious consequences can occur. Getty Images Bank

 

Meningitis refers to an infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Common symptoms include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and neck stiffness. If symptoms worsen, it can lead to coma, seizures, or encephalitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, as delayed treatment can be life-threatening.

Meningitis is broadly classified into four main types based on the cause of infection: viral, bacterial, tuberculous, and fungal. Among these, viral meningitis is the most common. Within viral meningitis, enteroviruses responsible for hand, foot, and mouth disease account for 90%.

Coxsackie virus and echo virus can also cause meningitis, and in people with intact immune systems, most cases resolve naturally within 1 to 2 weeks, although rare complications can occur.

Bacterial meningitis is the most threatening. It occurs due to bacterial infections such as pneumococcus, meningococcus, and Escherichia coli. There is a high risk of complications, and it must be treated promptly with antibiotics, which typically takes at least 10 to 14 days.

Meningitis caused by meningococcus is difficult to diagnose because its early symptoms are similar to a cold, and 8-15% of patients die within 48 hours of symptom onset. Additionally, even with appropriate treatment, the mortality rate reaches 10-15%, and serious sequelae such as brain damage and hearing loss can occur, making meningococcal vaccination necessary for prevention.

Tuberculous meningitis often has no specific symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis and potentially being fatal. Fungal meningitis mainly occurs in people with weakened immune systems.

The meninges are the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and if meningitis occurs and is not treated promptly, it can cause serious sequelae such as permanent brain damage. In children, neurological damage can lead to sensorineural hearing loss, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and brain abscesses. In adults, central nervous system complications such as cerebrovascular disease, brain edema, and intracranial hemorrhage can also occur.

Meningitis has similar symptoms regardless of the cause of onset, so relying solely on the judgment of oneself or a guardian can potentially increase the risk. To diagnose accurately, a cerebrospinal fluid test is needed to identify the causative bacteria and viruses. Procedures such as brain computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood culture, serological tests, and brain tissue examination can be performed. Based on these, symptomatic treatment can be provided along with precise treatment tailored to the cause.

Bacterial meningitis has a preventive vaccine, but as international travel increases, it becomes more difficult to identify the cause of the illness, and in the early stages of the disease, it can be hard to distinguish from more severe encephalitis symptoms.

Therefore, to effectively prevent meningitis, it is recommended to not only receive vaccination but also to maintain thorough personal hygiene, such as hand washing. In particular, extra caution should be taken during the summer when people gather in crowded places, avoiding contaminated water.

Professor Byun Jeong-hye of Korea University Anam Hospital's Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents said, "Proper treatment according to the cause is crucial for meningitis, so it must be quickly differentiated," and "since meningitis can threaten life, if symptoms are suspected, diagnosis and treatment by a specialist should be promptly sought."