Meningitis is a medical condition in which the tissues around the brain and spinal cord get inflammation. It is caused due to bacteria or virus. The treatment depends upon the severity of the disease and the cause.

As mentioned before, meningitis can be viral or bacterial. Different types of bacterium cause meningitis. It mostly depends on the age of the child, vaccinations, and the medical problems at present and in the past.

If the child is exposed to a person who has bacterial meningitis, if he suffered any infection recently, if he has gone to the areas which have bacterial meningitis, experienced any head injuries, poor immune system, if the cochlear implants are present and also some anatomic abnormalities, it can increase the risk of getting bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis should be given treatment immediately, otherwise in some cases it may lead to death. Sometime, complications continue even after the children are treated.

Enterovirus is the cause for the viral meningitis. It mostly spreads during the months between June and October in the United States. The other viruses which cause meningitis are transmitted via airborne droplets, at the time of birth, direct contact, and when an animal or insect bites.

Viral meningitis can be totally cured without any further health related complications. After taking antiviral medication, a child can recover within 24 to 36 hours. The child will have to consume lots of fluids, get ample bed rest and eat nutritious food. In some cases, even after the treatment, it damages the brain, causes deafness, learning disabilities, developmental delay, seizures and spastic or paralyzed muscles.

Majority of the children whose viral meningitis is treated will recover without any complications. The symptoms start vanishing in a week, but they experience irritability, fatigue, decreased concentration, and spasm and muscle weakness for few weeks.

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• What Is Meningitis ?