Overview

Meningitis is inflammation of the three membranes (meninges) that line the brain and spinal cord.

Although meningitis can affect people of any historic period, babies nether 2 are at the highest risk of getting meningitis. Your baby tin can get meningitis when bacteria, viruses, or a fungus infecting another part of their body travels in the bloodstream to their brain and spinal cord.

Out of one,000 live births, about 0.1 to 0.4 neonates (a baby less than 28 days former) go meningitis, estimates a 2017 review. It'due south a serious condition, just 90 percent of these babies survive. The aforementioned study notes anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of them have long-term complications, like learning difficulties and vision issues.

It's always been uncommon, but the use of vaccinations confronting bacterial meningitis has dramatically reduced the number of babies getting information technology.

Before there was a pneumococcal vaccine, x out of 100,000 babies under 1 yr old got pneumococcal meningitis, reports the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC). From 2002 through 2007, when the vaccine was routinely used, only about eight out of 100,000 babies age ane to 23 months got whatsoever type of bacterial meningitis, estimates a 2011 article.

Symptoms of meningitis in babies

The symptoms of meningitis can come on very rapidly. Your babe may exist difficult to comfort, specially when they're being held. Other symptoms in a babe may include:

  • developing a sudden loftier fever
  • not eating well
  • vomiting
  • being less active or energetic than usual
  • being very sleepy or hard to wake upwards
  • being more irritable than usual
  • bulging of the soft spot on their head (the fontanel)

Other symptoms may be hard to notice in a infant, such equally:

  • severe headache
  • neck stiffness
  • sensitivity to brilliant calorie-free

Occasionally, a baby may have a seizure. Many times this is due to the high fever and not the meningitis itself.

Causes of meningitis in babies

Bacteria, viruses, or a fungus can crusade meningitis in a babe.

Viral meningitis has long been the nigh common cause of meningitis. Since the development of vaccines to prevent bacterial meningitis, this type of meningitis has get increasingly uncommon. Fungal meningitis is rare.

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis usually isn't every bit serious as bacterial or fungal meningitis, simply some viruses do crusade a severe infection. Mutual viruses that usually cause mild illness include:

  • Non-polio enteroviruses. These viruses cause about cases of viral meningitis in the U.s.. They cause many kinds of infections, including colds. A lot of people contract them, simply very few get meningitis. The viruses spread when your baby comes in contact with infected stool or oral secretions.
  • Influenza. This virus causes the flu. It'due south spread through contact with secretions from the lung or rima oris of a person infected with it.
  • Measles and mumps viruses. Meningitis is a rare complication of these very contagious viruses. They're hands spread through contact with infected secretions from the lungs and mouth.

Viruses that can cause very severe meningitis include:

  • Varicella. This virus causes chickenpox. It'southward hands spread past contact with a person infected with it.
  • Herpes simplex virus. A baby usually gets information technology from their mother in the womb or during nascency.
  • W Nile virus. This is transmitted by a mosquito bite.

Children under 5, including babies, take a higher run a risk of getting viral meningitis. Babies between nascency and 1 month of historic period are more probable to develop a astringent viral infection.

Bacterial meningitis

During the first 28 days of life, bacterial meningitis is nearly often caused by leaner called:

  • Group B Streptococcus. This usually spreads from a mother to her baby at birth.
  • Gram-negative bacilli, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae. E. coli can spread via contaminated food, food prepared past someone who used the bathroom without washing their hands after, or from mother to baby during birth.
  • Listeria monocytogenes. Neonates normally get this from their mom in the womb. Occasionally a infant may get information technology during delivery. The mother gets it by eating contaminated food.

In children under v years, including babies over 1 month old, the most common bacteria that cause meningitis are:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterium is found in the sinuses, nose, and lungs. It spreads through breathing in air that a person infected with information technology sneezed or coughed into. Information technology's the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in babies younger than two years.
  • Neisseria meningitidis. This is the second nigh mutual crusade of bacterial meningitis. It spreads through contact with secretions from the lungs or rima oris of a person infected with it. Babies less than 1 year former are at highest adventure of getting this.
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). This is spread by contact with secretions from the mouth of a person who's a carrier. Carriers of the leaner unremarkably aren't sick themselves but can brand you ill. A baby must be in close contact with a carrier for a couple days to get it. Even and then, most babies volition only become carriers and not go meningitis.

Fungal meningitis

Fungal meningitis is very rare because it usually only affects people with a weak allowed organisation.

Several types of fungi can cause meningitis. 3 types of fungus live in the soil, and one type lives around bat and bird droppings. The fungus enters the trunk by being breathed in.

Babies born prematurely who don't weigh very much have a higher gamble of getting a blood infection from a fungus called Candida. A infant usually contracts this fungus in the hospital after birth. It can and so travel to the brain, causing meningitis.

Diagnosis of meningitis in babies

Tests can ostend the diagnosis of meningitis and determine what organism is causing it. Tests include:

  • Claret cultures. Blood removed from your infant'southward vein is spread on special plates that bacteria, viruses, or a fungus grows well on. If something grows, that's probably the cause of the meningitis.
  • Blood tests. Some of the blood removed will be analyzed in a lab for signs of infection.
  • Lumbar puncture. This test isalso chosen a spinal tap. Some of the fluid that surrounds your baby'south encephalon and spinal string is removed and tested. It's likewise put on special plates to see if anything grows.
  • CT scan. Your doctor may get a CT scan of your baby'southward head to see if at that place'southward a pocket of infection, called an abscess.

Handling of meningitis in babies

The handling for meningitis depends on the cause. Babies with some types of viral meningitis get better without whatsoever treatment.

Nevertheless, always take your infant to the doctor as soon every bit possible any time you doubtable meningitis. You can't exist sure what'south causing it until your doctor does some tests because the symptoms are similar to other conditions.

When needed, treatment has to start as soon as possible for a adept outcome.

Viral meningitis

Most of the time, meningitis due to non-polio enteroviruses, influenza, and mumps and measles viruses is mild. However, young infants are at higher hazard of having astringent disease. A baby who has it may get better within x days without needing whatsoever handling.

Meningitis caused by other viruses, like varicella, herpes simplex, and West Nile virus, can be serious. This may mean your baby needs to be hospitalized and treated with intravenous (IV) antiviral medication.

Bacterial meningitis

Antibiotics are used to care for bacterial meningitis. They're often given through an Four. Your infant will probably have to stay in the hospital.

Fungal meningitis

Fungal infections are treated with IV antifungal medication. Your baby will about likely accept to get treatment in the infirmary for a month or more. This is because fungal infections are difficult to go rid of.

Preventing meningitis in babies

Vaccines can preclude many, just not all, kinds of meningitis if they're given as recommended past the CDC. None are 100 percent effective, so even babies that are vaccinated can get meningitis.

Note that although in that location'due south a "meningitis vaccine," it's for 1 specific type of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis. It's generally recommended for older children and teens in the U.s.a.. It's non used in babies.

In some countries such every bit the Great britain, babies often do receive a meningitis vaccine.

Viral meningitis

Vaccines against viruses that can lead to meningitis are:

  • Influenza. This protects against meningitis caused past the flu virus. It's given every year starting at vi months of age. Although younger babies don't go this vaccine, information technology does offer protection when family members and others who will be around your baby are vaccinated.
  • Varicella. This vaccine protects against chickenpox. The first is given when your baby is 12 months old.
  • Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR). If your baby gets the measles or mumps, it can lead to meningitis. This vaccine protects against those viruses. The showtime dose is given at 12 months of age.

Bacterial meningitis

Vaccines to prevent infections that can pb to bacterial meningitis in babies are:

  • Haemophilus influenzae blazon b (Hib) vaccine. This protects against H. influenza bacteria. In developed countries, like the U.s., this vaccine has most eliminated this type of meningitis. The vaccine protects a babe from getting meningitis and from condign a carrier. Reducing the number of carriers leads to herd immunity. This means that even babies who aren't vaccinated have some protection since they're less likely to come in contact with a carrier. The outset dose is given at 2 months of age.
  • Pneumococcal (PCV13) vaccine . This protects against meningitis due to many strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The first dose is given at ii months of historic period.
  • Meningococcal vaccine. This vaccine protects confronting Neisseria meningitidis. It's not routinely given until age 11, unless there's an outcome with a baby'due south allowed organisation or they're traveling to countries where the bacterium is common. If that'south the case, then it's given starting at 2 months of age.

For group B strep, antibiotics can be given to the mother during labor to help prevent the baby from getting it.

Meaning women should avoid cheese made with unpasteurized milk considering it's a common source of Listeria. This helps prevent the mother from contracting Listeria and and then transferring information technology to her baby.

Follow general precautions to avert infections and help lower the risk of getting meningitis from any bacteria or viruses:

  • Wash your hands oft, especially earlier handling nutrient and later:
    • using the bath
    • changing your baby's diaper
    • covering your oral cavity to sneeze or coughing
    • bravado your nose
    • taking care of someone who might be contagious or has an infection
  • Use proper hand-washing technique. This means washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to wash your wrists and nether your nails and rings.
  • Embrace your mouth with the inside of your elbow or a tissue every time you sneeze or cough. If you utilize your hand to cover, wash it right away.
  • Don't share things that may acquit saliva, such as straws, cups, plates, and utensils. Avoid kissing a person who's sick.
  • Don't touch your mouth or face up if your hands aren't washed.
  • Oftentimes clean and disinfect objects you often touch, such equally your telephone, computer keyboard, remote controls, doorknobs, and toys.

Fungal meningitis

There are no vaccines for fungal meningitis. Babies aren't ordinarily in the environments where well-nigh fungi live, so they're unlikely to get fungal meningitis.

Since it's normally picked up in the hospital, using routine infection precautions can assistance foreclose a Candida infection, which can lead to meningitis, in depression-weight premature babies.

Long-term effects and outlook

Meningitis is an uncommon but serious, life-threatening infection. However, a baby will about e'er fully recover when it's diagnosed and treated early.

If treatment is delayed, a baby tin still recover, but they may exist left with one or more long-term effects, including:

  • incomprehension
  • deafness
  • seizures
  • fluid around the brain (hydrocephalus)
  • brain impairment
  • learning difficulties

The CDC estimates 85 to 90 percent of people (babies and adults) with meningitis due to meningococcal leaner survive. Around 11 to 19 percent will have long-term furnishings.

This may audio scary, only put another manner, well-nigh 80 to 90 pct of people who recover have no long-term effects. The CDC estimates estimated 92 per centum of children with meningitis due to pneumococcus survive.