Causes and symptoms of serous meningitis

Serous meningitis is a disease accompanied by inflammation of the membranes of the brain. As a rule, this form of inflammatory process is of viral origin and is often a complication of such diseases as influenza, measles, and rubella. Since this disease is most affected by children, many parents are interested in questions about what are the causes and symptoms of meningitis serous.

Serous meningitis and its features

Immediately it is worth noting that this form of the disease is considered less dangerous than inflammation of bacterial and fungal origin - it is less often accompanied by complications and relatively easier to treat. And before you know how the symptoms of meningitis look serous, it is worth reading the basic information about this disease.

Inflammation in the serous form proceeds benignly. Replication of viral particles occurs in the brain cells, which leads to a violation of the hemodynamics of the vessels, so a large amount of water and salts from the bloodstream into the cerebrospinal fluid. An increase in the volume of CSF leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which explains the main symptoms of meningitis serous.

As already mentioned, most often the disease is diagnosed in children. But in adult patients, the development of viral meningitis is possible only with the weakening of the immune system, which is often caused by previous acute or chronic diseases.

What are the main symptoms of meningitis serous?

The clinical picture in this case is quite clear. First, there are severe headaches, which, as a rule, are localized in the temporal areas. Attacks are so strong that the slightest physical activity or even movements of the eyeballs can aggravate the situation. Along with this, nausea, weakness, increased irritability, and strong sensitivity to light are the first signs of serous meningitis.

In newborn babies with increasing intracranial pressure, a large fontanel is swelling. Fever with a similar disease has a wavy character - the temperature rises sharply to 39-40 degrees, after a few days it normalizes, and after a couple of days it rises again.

But such characteristic symptoms as drowsiness and stiff neck muscles, with serous form of inflammation, as a rule, absent.

Methods of treatment of serous meningitis

To determine the exact diagnosis, a spinal puncture is performed. During this procedure, cerebrospinal fluid flows through the needle under a large head, which is an important characteristic. At laboratory research bacterial organisms are not found in the samples.

In any case, only a doctor can decide how to treat this disease. Serous meningitis requires a special approach, because antibiotics are useless in this case. As a rule, for the beginning patients are prescribed antiviral drugs ("Acyclovir", "Interferon"). In some cases, the use of immunoglobulins.

Diuretics (Furosemide) are used to stabilize intracranial pressure. Lumbar punctures are not only diagnostic, but also therapeutic, as with such a procedure the volume of CSF decreases, which has a beneficial effect on the patient's condition. In more severe cases, hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. With cramps, you need a muscle relaxant.