Overview

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

Although meningitis can bear on people of whatever age, babies under two are at the highest hazard of getting meningitis. Your baby tin get meningitis when bacteria, viruses, or a fungus infecting another part of their body travels in the bloodstream to their brain and spinal string.

Out of i,000 live births, nigh 0.i to 0.4 neonates (a baby less than 28 days old) go meningitis, estimates a 2022 review. It's a serious condition, but 90 percent of these babies survive. The same study notes anywhere from twenty to 50 pct of them accept long-term complications, similar learning difficulties and vision problems.

It's always been uncommon, but the utilize of vaccinations against bacterial meningitis has dramatically reduced the number of babies getting it.

Before there was a pneumococcal vaccine, 10 out of 100,000 babies nether ane year former got pneumococcal meningitis, reports the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC). From 2002 through 2007, when the vaccine was routinely used, only virtually eight out of 100,000 babies historic period 1 to 23 months got any type of bacterial meningitis, estimates a 2011 article.

Symptoms of meningitis in babies

The symptoms of meningitis tin come on very rapidly. Your baby may be hard to comfort, especially when they're being held. Other symptoms in a infant may include:

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

Other symptoms may be hard to detect in a baby, such as:

  • severe headache
  • cervix stiffness
  • sensitivity to bright low-cal

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 tin can cause meningitis in a baby.

Viral meningitis has long been the most common cause of meningitis. Since the development of vaccines to preclude bacterial meningitis, this blazon of meningitis has get increasingly uncommon. Fungal meningitis is rare.

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis commonly isn't as serious as bacterial or fungal meningitis, but some viruses do cause a severe infection. Common viruses that ordinarily cause mild disease include:

  • Not-polio enteroviruses. These viruses crusade near cases of viral meningitis in the Us. They cause many kinds of infections, including colds. A lot of people contract them, but very few become meningitis. The viruses spread when your baby comes in contact with infected stool or oral secretions.
  • Influenza. This virus causes the flu. Information technology's spread through contact with secretions from the lung or mouth of a person infected with it.
  • Measles and mumps viruses. Meningitis is a rare complication of these very contagious viruses. They're easily spread through contact with infected secretions from the lungs and mouth.

Viruses that can cause very astringent meningitis include:

  • Varicella. This virus causes chickenpox. It'due south easily spread past contact with a person infected with information technology.
  • Herpes simplex virus. A baby usually gets it from their female parent in the womb or during birth.
  • Due west Nile virus. This is transmitted by a mosquito bite.

Children under five, including babies, have a higher risk of getting viral meningitis. Babies between nascence and one calendar month of age are more probable to develop a severe viral infection.

Bacterial meningitis

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

  • Group B Streptococcus. This normally 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 by someone who used the bathroom without washing their easily afterward, or from mother to baby during birth.
  • Listeria monocytogenes. Neonates usually get this from their mom in the womb. Occasionally a baby may get it during commitment. The mother gets information technology by eating contaminated food.

In children under 5 years, including babies over 1 month old, the most mutual bacteria that cause meningitis are:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterium is found in the sinuses, nose, and lungs. Information technology spreads through breathing in air that a person infected with information technology sneezed or coughed into. Information technology'southward the well-nigh common cause of bacterial meningitis in babies younger than 2 years.
  • Neisseria meningitidis. This is the second about common crusade of bacterial meningitis. It spreads through contact with secretions from the lungs or mouth of a person infected with it. Babies less than 1 year old are at highest hazard of getting this.
  • Haemophilus influenzae blazon b (Hib). This is spread past contact with secretions from the mouth of a person who's a carrier. Carriers of the bacteria usually aren't sick themselves but can brand you sick. A baby must be in shut contact with a carrier for a couple days to become it. Fifty-fifty then, most babies volition just go carriers and not go meningitis.

Fungal meningitis

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

Several types of fungi tin cause meningitis. Three types of fungus alive in the soil, and ane type lives around bat and bird droppings. The fungus enters the body by being breathed in.

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

Diagnosis of meningitis in babies

Tests tin confirm the diagnosis of meningitis and decide what organism is causing it. Tests include:

  • Blood cultures. Blood removed from your baby's 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 volition be analyzed in a lab for signs of infection.
  • Lumbar puncture. This exam isalso chosen a spinal tap. Some of the fluid that surrounds your babe's brain and spinal cord is removed and tested. It'south also put on special plates to see if anything grows.
  • CT scan. Your medico may get a CT scan of your baby's head to see if there's a pocket of infection, chosen an abscess.

Treatment of meningitis in babies

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

However, always take your baby to the doctor as shortly as possible any time y'all suspect meningitis. Y'all can't be sure what'southward causing it until your doctor does some tests considering the symptoms are like to other atmospheric condition.

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

Viral meningitis

Nearly of the time, meningitis due to non-polio enteroviruses, influenza, and mumps and measles viruses is mild. Withal, young infants are at higher run a risk of having astringent disease. A baby who has information technology may get better within 10 days without needing any handling.

Meningitis acquired past other viruses, like varicella, canker simplex, and West Nile virus, tin can exist 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 Iv. Your infant will probably have to stay in the infirmary.

Fungal meningitis

Fungal infections are treated with IV antifungal medication. Your infant will most probable accept to get treatment in the hospital for a month or more. This is because fungal infections are hard to get rid of.

Preventing meningitis in babies

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

Notation that although in that location's a "meningitis vaccine," it'southward for one specific blazon of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis. Information technology'due south generally recommended for older children and teens in the United States. Information technology'south non used in babies.

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

Viral meningitis

Vaccines against viruses that tin pb to meningitis are:

  • Influenza. This protects confronting meningitis caused past the flu virus. It's given every year starting at 6 months of age. Although younger babies don't get this vaccine, it does offer protection when family members and others who will be effectually your baby are vaccinated.
  • Varicella. This vaccine protects against chickenpox. The first is given when your infant is 12 months old.
  • Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR). If your infant gets the measles or mumps, it can lead to meningitis. This vaccine protects confronting those viruses. The first dose is given at 12 months of age.

Bacterial meningitis

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

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. This protects against H. influenza bacteria. In developed countries, similar the United States, this vaccine has about eliminated this blazon of meningitis. The vaccine protects a baby from getting meningitis and from becoming a carrier. Reducing the number of carriers leads to herd amnesty. This means that fifty-fifty babies who aren't vaccinated accept some protection since they're less likely to come in contact with a carrier. The offset dose is given at ii months of age.
  • Pneumococcal (PCV13) vaccine . This protects against meningitis due to many strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The first dose is given at 2 months of age.
  • Meningococcal vaccine. This vaccine protects against Neisseria meningitidis. It'due south non routinely given until historic period 11, unless there'southward an issue with a babe's immune system or they're traveling to countries where the bacterium is common. If that'southward the case, and then it's given starting at 2 months of age.

For grouping B strep, antibiotics can exist given to the mother during labor to help preclude the baby from getting it.

Pregnant women should avoid cheese made with unpasteurized milk because it's a mutual source of Listeria. This helps forbid the female parent from contracting Listeria and and then transferring information technology to her infant.

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

  • Wash your hands ofttimes, especially before handling food and later:
    • using the bathroom
    • changing your baby's diaper
    • roofing your mouth to sneeze or cough
    • blowing your nose
    • taking care of someone who might exist contagious or has an infection
  • Use proper paw-washing technique. This means washing with soap and warm h2o for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to launder your wrists and under your nails and rings.
  • Cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow or a tissue every time you sneeze or cough. If you lot use your hand to cover, wash it right abroad.
  • Don't share things that may bear saliva, such as straws, cups, plates, and utensils. Avoid kissing a person who's sick.
  • Don't touch on your oral fissure or face up if your hands aren't washed.
  • Frequently clean and disinfect objects yous oft bear upon, such equally your phone, computer keyboard, remote controls, doorknobs, and toys.

Fungal meningitis

There are no vaccines for fungal meningitis. Babies aren't normally in the environments where most fungi live, and so they're unlikely to get fungal meningitis.

Since it's usually picked upward in the hospital, using routine infection precautions can help prevent a Candida infection, which tin pb to meningitis, in depression-weight premature babies.

Long-term furnishings and outlook

Meningitis is an uncommon merely serious, life-threatening infection. Even so, a baby will about always fully recover when it's diagnosed and treated early.

If handling is delayed, a baby tin nonetheless recover, merely they may be left with one or more long-term effects, including:

  • blindness
  • deafness
  • seizures
  • fluid around the encephalon (hydrocephalus)
  • encephalon damage
  • learning difficulties

The CDC estimates 85 to ninety percentage of people (babies and adults) with meningitis due to meningococcal bacteria survive. Around 11 to xix pct volition have long-term effects.

This may sound scary, but put another way, well-nigh lxxx to 90 percentage of people who recover have no long-term effects. The CDC estimates estimated 92 percentage of children with meningitis due to pneumococcus survive.