The Best Method to Diagnose Meningitis

Meningitis, sometimes referred to as spinal meningitis, is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord caused by either a virus or bacteria, or less commonly by a fungus. If left untreated, bacterial meningitis can result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disabilities. This variety may be life-threatening. Viral and fungal meningitis are rarely as severe. When diagnosing meningitis, it's important to determine whether the cause is viral or bacterial because the treatments are different and the results can be drastically different as well.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of meningitis typically involve a rapid rise of fever accompanied by headache and a stiff neck. Nausea, vomiting, confusion and light sensitivity are often present, and some people may get a skin rash. The symptoms may be less pronounced in young children. Because of the similarity of their symptoms, meningitis is sometimes mistaken for the flu.

Diagnosis

• To test for meningitis, a physician must collect blood samples or cerebrospinal-fluid samples. This is usually done through a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. These samples are then tested by a medical laboratory. The laboratory will confirm the presence of bacteria by culturing it in order to identify the specific type of bacteria causing the infection. If no bacteria is found, other tests can determine the identity of any virus or fungus that may be present. Once the cause is determined, a specific course of treatment can be recommended.