Who is the target audience for meningitis?

Infants, teens and young adults, and older adults have the highest rates of meningococcal disease in the United States.

What should you do if you suspect meningitis?

You should get medical advice as soon as possible if you’re concerned that you or your child could have meningitis. Trust your instincts and do not wait until a rash develops. Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or your child might be seriously ill.

Do they hospitalize you for meningitis?

Treatment in hospital is recommended in all cases of bacterial meningitis, as the condition can cause serious problems and requires close monitoring. Severe viral meningitis may also be treated in hospital.

What are the nursing management of meningitis?

Meningitis can be fatal. Nursing staff need to prioritise antibiotic treatment, as delays are associated with poorer outcomes. Testing the urine specific gravity to assess fluid status can be useful, especially in infants and children with a labile fluid status, and those on full maintenance intravenous fluids.

How urgent is meningitis?

Bacterial meningitis is an emergency. You will need immediate treatment in a hospital. Symptoms usually come on quickly, and may include: Fever and chills.

How long is a hospital stay for meningitis?

Among the groups of meningitis-related hospitalizations, those caused by bacteria had the longest hospital stays (16.6 days), followed closely by those caused by funguses and other microorganisms (16.2 days). Patients hospitalized with viral meningitis had the shortest hospital stays (4.1 days).

What is the priority assessment for a client with bacterial meningitis?

Assessment of the patient with bacterial meningitis include. Neurologic status. Neurologic status and vital signs are continually assessed. Pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas values.

How do nurses assess for meningitis?

Place your patient in a supine position. Assess for nuchal rigidity (neck pain and resistance to flexion), which may signal meningeal inflammation or a mechanical problem. Repeat your assessment on the other side. If pain and resistance to knee extension are bilateral, meningeal irritation may be present.

What part of the neck is stiff with meningitis?

A headache caused by meningitis is typically described as severe and unrelenting. It does not subside by taking an aspirin. Stiff neck. This symptom most commonly involves a reduced ability to flex the neck forward, also called nuchal rigidity.

Can you see meningitis on MRI?

Routine contrast-enhanced brain MRI is the most sensitive modality for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis because it helps detect the presence and extent of inflammatory changes in the meninges, as well as complications.