how long do yo have to be hopitalized?

Question

how long do you have to be in the hospital for meninjitus??

this is for my sister she is 19 years old

Answer 1

it varies.

"Professional Treatment

Any child with possible meningitis needs aggressive diagnosis and treatment. First the doctor will take a history and perform a physical examination. If meningitis is suspected, the doctor will order laboratory tests to help make the diagnosis. The tests will likely include a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to collect a sample of spinal fluid. This sample will be examined for signs of inflammation and cultured for the organism that may be causing the infection.

It is crucial to fight cases of bacterial meningitis quickly. If a child is diagnosed with (or strongly suspected to have) bacterial meningitis, doctors will start intravenous antibiotics as soon as possible, often before the exact microorganism causing the infection has been pinpointed. Once the infectious agent is identified through laboratory tests, the antibiotics can be changed, if necessary, or discontinued if the patient turns out to have viral meningitis.

If the child is diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, he or she will be hospitalized and closely monitored. While in the hospital, the child will continue to receive antibiotics and may require intensive-care treatment. The child will receive fluids to replace those lost to fever, sweating, vomiting, and poor appetite, and may be given corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation of the meninges, depending on the cause of the disease.

Complications of bacterial meningitis may require specific treatment. For example, anticonvulsants can be given for seizures. If the child develops shock or low blood pressure, additional intravenous fluids and certain medications may be given to increase blood pressure. Some children may need supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation if they have difficulty breathing.

A child who has viral meningitis may also be hospitalized, although some children are allowed to recover at home if they do not seem to be too ill. With the exception of medication for the herpes simplex virus, there are no medications to fight the agents that cause viral meningitis, so treatment is usually aimed at relieving the child's symptoms. This includes rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medication.

Some patients who have had meningitis may require longer-term follow-up. One of the most common problems resulting from bacterial meningitis is impaired hearing, and children who have had bacterial meningitis should have a hearing test following their recovery.". http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/meningitis.html

this, likely, applies to adults, as well. ask your doctor about the probable length of the stay, and if the disease is more or less serious in an adult (if it's an adult you're concerned about).

Answer 2

It depends greatly on the patient, the type, and the severity of the illness. Take a look at the following information about meningitis (inflammation of the meninges) and see if this helps you at all...the link to the full-length article is below.

MENINGITIS

Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord, usually due to bacterial or viral infections elsewhere in body that has spread into the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Other causes of meningitis such as fungal, protozoal, or certain non-infectious etiologies are much rarer. Meningitis should be distinguished from the condition encephalitis, the latter of which is the inflammation of the brain itself. Meningitis can affect anyone in any age group, from the newborn to the elderly, although the specific cause may be different. Typical signs and symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, photophobia, or vomiting. Although the most common cause of meningitis is viral (which may resolve within a few days without treatment), anyone suspected of having meningitis should be evaluated promptly, because bacterial meningitis can be very serious and immediate treatment is necessary.

Answer 3

That depends on you and your doctor. If you were in relatively good health before the meningitis and you follow your doctors and nurses instructions then you should improve quickly. However everyone is different so please keep that in mind.

Answer 4

depends on which one you have,, viral or bacterial. my son had viral and he was in for 7 days..

Answer 5

sry i wouldn't no

Answer 6

Until you are better.