Word parts
What it means
Swelling of the layers around the brain and spinal cord, most often from infection. Viral meningitis is more common and usually milder. Bacterial meningitis is an emergency that can kill or cause brain damage, deafness or loss of limbs within hours. Classic findings are fever, severe headache, stiff neck and sensitivity to light; babies may show a bulging fontanelfon-tuh-NELA soft spot on a baby's head where the skull bones have not yet joined.Full entry . A lumbar puncture tests the spinal fluid to confirm it.
For the nurse
Use droplet precautions for suspected bacterial meningitis until 24 hours of effective antibiotics. Watch level of consciousness and signs of rising intracranial pressurein-truh-KRAY-nee-ul PRESH-erThe pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.intra- insidecrani/o skull-al relating toFull entry , keep the room dark and quiet, and use seizure precautions. Close contacts may need preventive antibiotics.
At a glance
| Spanish | meningitis |
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Related terms
central nervous system
The brain and the spinal cord together.
-itis
A word ending that means inflammation.
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.
seizure
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.
fontanel
A soft spot on a baby's head where the skull bones have not yet joined.