Meningitis?

Question

My sister (aged 21) has symptoms of viral meningitis; stiff neck, constant headache, sensitivity to light, tiredness, nausea and some vomiting, as well as a bout of tonsilitis.
The GP says that the above symptoms are all just as a cause of the severe tonsilitis. We're not happy with the doctor's opinion, but are quite isolated, and the doctor is the only doctor for about 25 miles, so going for a second opinion is not an option. She has been like this for 6+ days.
Please advise.

Answer 1

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord, usually due to the spread of an infection.

In the past, most meningitis cases occurred in children younger than 5 years. But as a result of the protection offered by current childhood vaccines, most meningitis cases now occur in young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Older adults also tend to have a higher incidence of meningitis than do young children.

The cause of most cases of meningitis is a viral infection, but bacterial and fungal infections also can lead to meningitis. The severity of the inflammation and the best treatment depend on the cause of the infection. Bacterial meningitis is generally much more serious than viral meningitis, and timely treatment is necessary.

Left untreated, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. If you suspect that you or someone in your family has signs or symptoms of meningitis, seek medical care right away. There's no way to tell what kind of meningitis you have without seeing your doctor and undergoing testing.Signs and symptoms
It's easy to mistake the early signs and symptoms of meningitis for the flu. They may develop over a period of one or two days and typically include:

A high fever
Severe headache
Vomiting or nausea with headache
Confusion, or difficulty concentrating — in the very young, this may appear as inability to maintain eye contact
Seizures
Sleepiness or difficulty waking up
Stiff neck
Sensitivity to light
Lack of interest in drinking and eating
Skin rash in some cases, such as in viral or meningococcal meningitis
Earlier signs and symptoms that may suggest a serious infection, although not necessarily meningitis, include leg pain, ice-cold hands and feet, and abnormally pale skin tone.

Signs in newborns
Newborns and young infants may not have the classic signs and symptoms of headache and stiff neck. Instead, they may cry constantly, seem unusually sleepy or irritable, and eat poorly. Sometimes the soft spots on an infant's head may bulge. A very late sign may be a spasm consisting of extreme hyperextension of the body (opisthotonos).

If you or your child has bacterial meningitis, delaying treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage. In addition, bacterial meningitis can prove fatal in a matter of days. Seek medical care right away if you or anyone in your family has any signs or symptoms.

Acute bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics to ensure recovery and reduce the risk of complications. The antibiotic or combination of antibiotics that your doctor may choose depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection. Often, analyzing a sample of cerebrospinal fluid can help identify the bacteria. If you or your child has bacterial meningitis, your doctor may recommend a broad-spectrum antibiotic until he or she can determine the exact cause of the meningitis.

If you or your child has bacterial meningitis, your doctor may recommend treatments for brain swelling, shock, convulsions or dehydration. Infected sinuses or mastoids — the bones behind the outer ear that connect to the middle ear — may need to be drained. Any fluid that has accumulated between the brain and the membranes that surround it may also need to be drained or surgically removed.

Antibiotics can't cure most viral meningitis, but many cases improve on their own in a week or so without therapy. Treatment of mild cases of viral meningitis is usually with bed rest, plenty of fluids and over-the-counter pain medications to help reduce fever and relieve body aches. If the cause of your meningitis is the herpes virus, your doctor may also recommend an antiviral medication aimed at this virus

Answer 2

I agree with the second answerer. If she has had these symptoms for over 6 days, then that would suggest something other than meningitis as it is a short lived infection once symptoms begin. However if you are concerned, and the Doctor didn't perscribed any medication, then I suggest you do try and get a second opinion - its unlikely to be diagnosed as menigitis, but a second doctor might be able to perscribe something.

Failing that, go back to your Doctor and ask for a review since she has been ill for a long period of time.

Answer 3

Please look up the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis.Bacterial can be fatal. Sometimes if you have viral meningitis it is brought on by an upper respiratory infection ,ear infection ect...
Your doc can do a blood test called Westergran Sed Rate. People are not always put in the hosp for viral meningitis. "They are for bacterial."I would take your sister to the closest ER just to make sure. This can be a very serious and life threatening illness
GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 4

If you are in the UK try calling NHS Direct or if really worried take her to the nearest A&E department.Especially if there has been little or no change in her symptoms. Whether he is the only Doctor near or not you are entitled to ask for a second opinion. Is the Doctor treating the Tonsilitis? If so it may just be a case of letting the treatment take the time it needs to work! A severe tonsilitis can take a while to recover from! The symptoms do fit Tonsilitis as well as other infections and if she hasn't got any worse I'd try not to worry!
If still in doubt take her to someone else!!!

Answer 5

If you are really concerned, take her straight to a hospital. If, however, as you say, she has had these symptoms for 6+ days, i would hazard a guess that she may be ok. Meningitis is not something that hangs around for ages, it usually attacks without remorse!!!! If it is any comfort, my family and myself have all had extremely bad flu symptons for the past 3 weeks, with tonsilitis, headaches, stiff and sore necks and nausea with some vomiting. Hope everything turns out ok for you both.

Answer 6

If she indeed has viral meningitis, then the good news is that it usually is self limiting. However, any neurological disorder needs to be thoroughly evaluated with radiological imaging to be safe. Go to another doctor for a second opinion.

Answer 7

Viral meningitis will not last for 6 days without improvement. It may be bacterial. As there is tonsillitis, it may be streptococcal. She must have a lumbar puncture, If she has not had one, please do not delay. If untreated or treated late, bacterial meningitis can cause death or permanent neurological damage.

Answer 8

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both virus types can cause sores around the mouth (herpes labialis) and on the genitals (genital herpes). Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Cold sores sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. The blisters may break open, leak a clear fluid, and then scab over after a few days. They usually heal in several days to 2 weeks.
The herpes simplex virus usually enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is usually spread when a person touches a cold sore or touches infected fluid—such as from sharing eating utensils or razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. A parent who has a cold sore often spreads the infection to his or her child in this way. Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body.
Luckly there is a cure for herpes https://tr.im/ca59a

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Put your Sister in the back of your car and take her to the hospital - or dial 999 and call up an ambulance to do the same NOW!!!!