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How Do I Know If I Have It?

A procedure called a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, will determine whether you or your child has meningitis. This common procedure is done in a hospital. During the procedure, an area of the back is injected with an anesthetic and a needle is slipped between two bones in the spine to obtain a small sample of spinal fluid. The fluid is normally clear, so if it appears cloudy and contains pus cells, you may have meningitis.

Further examination will determine which specific type of meningitis you have — bacterial, viral or fungal. Samples of your blood, urine and secretions from your nose or ears may also be taken. Because the disease can progress very rapidly, treatment will begin immediately — even before the results of the tests are known.

What Are the Treatments?

The bacterial form of meningitis is especially life-threatening and must be treated quickly. It is important to go to the nearest emergency facility right away if you suspect you have meningitis.

If your doctor suspects that you have meningitis, the spinal tap will be performed to determine which type it is. You will likely be admitted to the hospital to receive antibiotics intravenously until your doctor receives the results of your spinal tap.

If you have bacterial meningitis, you will continue to receive antibiotics until the infection is cured — possibly as long as two weeks. Because bacterial meningitis is contagious, you will probably stay in an isolated room for at least 48 hours. Meningitis can make your eyes sensitive to light, so the room will be darkened. You will receive plenty of liquids and medicines to relieve headache and fever. Steroid medications are also sometimes used to decrease inflammation, especially in adult patients. 

To protect you from becoming re-infected, doctors will look for a source of the infection, such as an infected sinus. If antibiotics don't cure this infection, your doctor may need to drain the area with a needle.

If you have meningococcal meningitis, the people close to you are at risk of becoming infected. Your doctor may recommend that they take an antibiotic to prevent infection. Very fast treatment of this type of meningitis is vital, since it is fatal 10% of the time.

Antibiotics are not effective for treating viral meningitis, and in most cases the infection resolves on its own with time. Viral meningitis is usually much less severe and requires only a few days at most in the hospital. During this time, you will receive intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration as well as painkillers and other medicines.

If you have fungal meningitis, you will receive medicines that can fight this type of infection. Otherwise, treatment will also consist of fluids to prevent dehydration and medicines to control pain and fever.