Meningitis, encephalitis are diseases caused by microbes in the brain.
Microbes reach the brain tissue, when the microbe settles in the brain after mixing with the blood, or when the microbe present in the adjacent organs, upper respiratory tract (nose, mouth, larynx, trachea) reaches the brain by following the sinuses and olfactory nerve. In addition, in cases of pus, runny ear inflammation, sinusitis, and infections that occur at the base of the hair, they easily follow the dirty blood vessels and reach the brain and cause brain inflammation.
Meningitis:
It occurs after inflammation of the meninges with a bacterial infection. Meningitis, which is caused by many bacterial species, is more common in children and newborn babies, and the types due to some microbes can easily spread through the respiratory tract. It is transmitted to children with weak body defenses. The disease begins with a sudden high fever and rapidly worsens. In addition, tuberculosis (TB) meningitis starts more insidiously and slowly. Again, it is more common in childhood and young people.
It begins with symptoms such as fever, chills, shivering, vomiting, headache, neck pain, fatigue, distraction or tendency to sleep, and convulsions. It is almost like a severe flu infection, but the symptoms become more severe and consciousness disorders (extreme sluggishness, difficulty in awakening drowsiness, slowness) occur. In small babies, the symptoms may be faint: for example, even if only the baby’s sucking is impaired in the first months, it should be suspicious. The contraction and hardening of the neck are remarkable.
In the diagnosis of these diseases, it is necessary to take water from the waist (lumbar puncture) in order to examine the cerebrospinal fluid. According to the findings seen here, the type of microbe is determined and special treatment can be given. Computed tomography and MRI examinations performed in the early stages of the disease are normal. In the later stages, there are dye retentions in the brain membrane and brain specific to inflammation.
Encephalitis Caused by viruses, which are microbes smaller than bacteria. When viruses invade the brain and spinal cord, clinical conditions called viral (aseptic) meningitis and encephalitis occur.
Viral meningitis=aseptic meningitis; Similar to bacterial meningitis, usually headache, discomfort from light, and stiff neck are seen.
In Encephalitis: Apart from the brain membranes, the brain tissue is also invaded by viruses. Sara’s seizures, consciousness disorders, paralysis are seen here. The clinical course is more severe
if bacterial meningitis is usually diagnosed at an early stage and appropriate antibiotic therapy is administered. Healing can be achieved without leaving sequelae. Delay in treatment may result in permanent epilepsy, paralysis of various organs, mental defects and even death.
The treatment of meningitis and encephalitis caused by viruses is not very successful except for herpes virus. Therefore, it progresses worse than bacterial meningitis.
SUBACUTE SCLEROSAN PANENSEPHALIT (SSPE)
It is a slowly progressive brain inflammation seen in childhood and adolescence. It is caused by measles or a measles-like virus. It is a disease that starts with clumsiness, head falling back and clumsiness, and then progresses with imbalance, convulsions and falling attacks, and dementia. Most of the patients are children younger than 12 years old. Boys get the disease more often than girls. The disease progresses within months or a few years, causing death. There is no effective treatment available yet.
