Ways To Treat Meningitis

If you suspect you have contracted meningitis, it is imperative to seek medical treatment immediately. This extremely rare condition is the result of the inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding both your brain and spinal cord. If not addressed quickly, the effects can be fatal or cause irreversible brain injury. Signs of meningitis can be quite severe and are quite similar to flu symptoms.

Typically, a person would first experience a fever along with an intense headache and a stiff neck. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, sensitivity to light, and even seizures. There are various types of meningitis, but the main ones are fungal and bacterial. While most cases tend to go away with little to no treatment, you should still seek medical attention if circumstances worsen.

Draining Infected Sinuses Or Mastoids

A physician will usually treat meningitis by draining infected sinuses or mastoids (the bone located behind the ear). This treatment will be exercised if an individual has meningitis due to a bacterial infection. These cases are very rare and are often treated with antibiotics to kill the harmful bacteria once the sinuses have been drained. Physicians will usually drain the sinuses by performing endoscopic surgery, a procedure that allows them to clear out the sinuses, remove excess tissue, and widen the passageways to allow the sinuses to drain easier. If the patient doesn't respond well to this procedure, the physician may perform a balloon sinuplasty or open sinus surgery.

Bed Rest

If you have any form of meningitis, it is highly likely your energy has depleted, and you are left feeling extremely fatigued with the desire to do nothing but sleep. Fortunately, getting the best rest possible will work to favor your healing process. During this time, you will want to get as much rest as possible to allow your body a full recovery and give it time to fight off the infection.

Even if you feel the desire to move around, only do so sparingly as you will likely experience poor coordination, dizziness, body aches, and a generalized weakness throughout the body that may persist several months after you are clear of meningitis. You will also want to make sure you are resting in a dark room as you will usually have a heightened sensitivity to light that may trigger or cause a headache to progress rapidly.