{"id":9359,"date":"2018-06-02T18:49:40","date_gmt":"2018-06-02T17:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myhealthspecialist.com\/blog\/?p=9359"},"modified":"2021-04-21T13:36:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T12:36:58","slug":"think-meningitis-not-just-a-rash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myhealthspecialist.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/02\/think-meningitis-not-just-a-rash\/","title":{"rendered":"Think Meningitis – Not just a rash"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Meningitis\"<\/p>\n

What is meningitis?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meningitis<\/strong> is a condition caused, most commonly, by viral or bacterial infection resulting in inflammation of the meningeal layer within the brain and spinal cord. Whilst viral meningitis is more common and often less severe, bacterial meningitis is a serious disease that requires fast and effective treatment.[i]<\/a>,[ii]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Incidence and complications<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iin 2017, Public Health England reported 747 lab-confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease in England during 2016\/17, a huge reduction from the reported 2,595 cases seen in 1999\/2000[iii]<\/a>. The incidence of meningitis has reduced dramatically since the introduction of appropriate vaccinations.[iv]<\/a> For example the introduction of the H. influenza<\/em> type B vaccination in 1990 led to a 55% decrease in the incidence of meningitis associated with this bacteria, which had previously been the leading cause of meningitis in children under 5.[v]<\/a> However, if left untreated<\/em>, meningitis can result in hearing loss, seizures, gangrene and limb amputation, coma and death, and, despite the major impact of immunisation, remains a leading infectious cause of death and disability in children. Research looking at long-term follow up of patients showed that those who suffered from neonatal meningitis were 10 times more likely to have a moderate or severe disability compared to children who had not had meningitis[vi]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What should you look for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Non-blanching rash:<\/em><\/p>\n

Recent healthcare campaigns have significantly raised awareness of the classic \u2018non-blanching\u2019 meningitis rash, which you can monitor at home with a glass-roll test<\/a>. However, in most cases, the emergence of this classical rash indicates the presence of \u2018meningococcal septicaemia\u2019; a more severe advancement of bacterial meningitis causing a more widespread infection (i.e. sepsis). The signs of more severe infection, such as the rash or signs of septic shock, often appear later in the course of the illness following other clinical signs which may be apparent earlier[vii]<\/a>,[viii]<\/a><\/sup>. Research has shown that complications are more likely to arise in patients who initially present with this rash compared to other patients,[ix]<\/a> and that recognising meningitis before<\/em> these signs appear (often by a GP or in a primary care setting) results in faster access to appropriate treatment.[x]<\/a> Whilst some of these signs can be seen as very generic stigmata of any childhood infection, there are some more telling signs, which may be more characteristic of meningitis, and should be treated with high suspicion.<\/p>\n

Other <\/em>common presenting features seen in children with meningitis:<\/em>[xi]<\/a>-15 <\/sup><\/p>\n