Five children were hospitalized with meningitis at the “Sfântul Ioan” Emergency Hospital in Suceava last week. In the last month, 25 cases of meningitis were confirmed, most of them in children, both viral and bacterial in nature. Epidemiologist Emilian Popovici explained which are the symptoms that should send us urgently to the doctor, but also how we can prevent the disease.
Meningitis can initially be mistaken for the flu or a cold – Photo Shutterstock
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes that protect the spinal cord and brain. If not treated promptly, the disease can progress unpredictably and, in severe cases, lead to septicemia or even death.
“There are three types: bacterial meningitis, such as pneumococcal meningitis, meningococcal meningitis and meningitis caused by listeria monocytogenes, viral meningitis, where we are talking about enteroviruses, such as herpes simplex etiology, the urlian virus, but it can even be the HIV virus , West Nile virus, which can lead to serious cases, and fungal meningitis, are caused by fungi, but are very limited in transmission. The symptoms of viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis, at least in the initial phase, in the first phase of evolution, are identical, except that, in the case of viral meningitis, they are less pronounced than in the case of bacterial meningitis. In other words, bacterial meningitis generally has a more serious clinical course than viral ones.“, explained the vice-president of the Romanian Society of Epidemiology, Dr. Emilian Popovici, for “the truth”.
Meningitis symptoms
The condition can initially be confused with the flu or a cold, but the symptoms are much more severe and can vary depending on the patient’s age.
Common symptoms include persistent and very high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea. In severe forms, serious symptoms may occur, such as impaired consciousness, coma, stiff neck, paralysis, convulsions, and difficulty breathing.
However, there are also specific symptoms, in addition to those mentioned, that we should pay attention to:A very important sign is the stiffness of the neck, which is called stiff neck. So, there is a stiffness of the neck, rapid breathing, drowsiness, eye sensitivity, it is again a sign. This sensitivity to light, photophobia, comes on suddenly. Also, nausea and vomiting, confusion, difficulty concentrating, convulsions may occur, lack of appetite, as in almost any infectious disease, but here something more appears. In addition to the lack of appetite, there is also the lack of thirst“, detailed Dr. Emilian Popovici.
Specifically, neck stiffness, photosensitivity and lack of appetite along with lack of thirst are the symptoms that can “draw a relevant clinical picturet”.
In the case of babies, excessive crying, continuous sleep states, irritability, food refusal, low interactivity, and neck stiffness, accompanied by body stiffness are signs that should send us to the doctor urgently. Additionally, in more advanced forms of meningitis, “a swelling may also appear on the crown of the head, in the area of the fontanelle“, added the epidemiologist.
Recommendations for prevention
Specialists from the Suceava Public Health Directorate recommend strict hygiene measures to prevent illness, according to the local newspaper Monitorul de Suceava. Key tips include:
- Frequent hand washing: It is very important to wash our hands especially before meals and after using the toilet.
- Make sure the water you drink comes from safe sources.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption.
- Avoiding bathing in undeveloped places: Do not swim in unauthorized pools or pools with water of questionable quality.
- Showers before and after the pool: It is important to shower both before entering the pool and when leaving.
- Room ventilation: Maintain adequate ventilation of living spaces.
- Daily garbage disposal: Ensure proper household waste management to prevent insect infestation.
“In addition to observing hygiene rules, strengthening the immune system is also important through non-specific measures. This means a complex diet, with vegetables, fruits and balanced to support the immune system and most importantly, vaccination against the viruses and bacteria involved in the onset of meningitis. Vaccination prevents practically also the appearance of this health problem.“, adds the epidemiologist.
Also to be avoided is the shared use of objects such as: glass, mug, cutlery, toothbrush, lip balm and others.
Furthermore, “rest should be enough, because this also supports the health of the body, mechanical protection of coughs and sneezes, covering the mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. Attention to pregnant women, who should take care of what they eat and avoid unpasteurized cheeses, uncooked food, or cooked foods, because the risk of infection is higher in them.“, said Dr. Emilian Popovici.
Why we need to be careful where we bathe
In order to reduce the risks, DSP Suceava specialists carry out checks at the swimming pools and swimming pools in the county. Water samples were taken to monitor its quality and prevent the spread of enteroviruses, responsible for viral meningitis.
“It is recommended not to bathe in places not authorized for bathing, because there is this possibility of transmission also through the water in the pool. When children take a bath, they involuntarily end up swallowing water and then they can also swallow pathogens that can cause diseases.”, the specialist explains.
Doctor Emilian Popovici gave the example of the hepatitis A virus, which is resistant and can survive for a long time in sea water. Therefore, it is important to monitor the water in bathing areas to prevent infections. The epidemiologist says that when the hepatitis A virus is detected in seawater, parents whose children are not vaccinated should avoid bathing in that water, because the virus can be accidentally ingested, which can lead to the infection of children.
“It’s a very important piece of information, but, unfortunately, it often remains incomplete. And through this water from unapproved or uncontrolled places with untreated water, trouble can happen.“, points out the doctor.
Meningitis cases from Suceava
The cases reported in Suceava are sporadic and not related to each other, doctors say. There is no increase compared to previous years. The patients, both children and adults, had mild and moderate forms of the disease and responded well to treatment.
“It’s nothing to be afraid of. Practically, this year there are about the same number of confirmed cases as last year, and in Suceava there are about the same number of confirmed cases as in other counties. So it would not be an unusual situation, but that does not mean that appropriate measures are not necessary.”, emphasizes Emilian Popovici.
