What are the sequelae of meningitis?

Meningitis is a common clinical disease. This disease is very harmful to the human body and must be treated in time. Meningitis is generally closely related to bacterial infection, and most patients may still have residual problems after treatment, such as sequelae of meningitis. The symptoms of sequelae of meningitis are very obvious, varying in severity, and are related to the patient's recovery. What are the sequelae of meningitis?

1. Initial stage

The initial fever stage of post-meningitis sequelae is characterized by sudden high fever (38-39°C), accompanied by headache, drowsiness, vomiting, and also nausea, chest tightness, dizziness, thirst, and irritability. The course of the disease is 3 to 4 days. High fever over 40°C, convulsions, coma, limb spasms, disappearance of superficial reflexes, increased muscle tone, meningeal irritation signs and pyramidal tract signs may be seen. The course of the disease is about 4 to 10 days. In severe cases, death may occur due to respiratory or circulatory failure.

2. Recovery period

During the recovery period of meningitis sequelae, there are symptoms of low fever, sweating, aphasia or language disorders, dysphagia, numbness and pain in the limbs, inability to move voluntarily, dementia, etc. Occasionally, there are sequelae of encephalitis such as tremor, limb contracture, torsion spasm and mental abnormalities.

3. Epilepsy

The sequelae of viral meningitis is epilepsy, commonly known as epilepsy, which is a brain dysfunction caused by sudden and short-term excessive discharge of brain cells. The symptoms of sequelae of viral meningitis manifest as different disorders of movement, sensation, consciousness, autonomic nervous system, and spirit, or they may all exist simultaneously. Clinically, they are manifested by sudden loss of consciousness, sudden falls, convulsions of the limbs, foaming at the mouth, or strange noises. After waking up, the patient is like a normal person.

4. Others

The sequelae period of encephalitis refers to those who have not recovered within 6 months after onset. The incidence of sequelae varies (7% to 20%), with aphasia, epilepsy, mental disorder, dementia, limb bending deformity, torsion spasm, etc. being the most common. Some may recover within months or years. There are relatively few people who do not recover and have lifelong sequelae, about 2% to 3%.