Pediatric Meningitis

Pediatric Meningitis Written by: Wahida Sabir

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes inflammation. Injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also could cause meningitis. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some parents and physicians about pediatric meningitis.

A child, Faisal, a resident of Kabul city says, “I had meningitis and I was suffering from headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting.”

A mother from Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “Once my child was suffering from headache and I gave him a tablet of paracetamol but it did not relieve his headache. I took him to Khairkhana Hospital, Kabul city and they sent me to Indira Gandhi children’s Hospital in Kabul city. They diagnosed his disease meningitis.”

Doctor Shirnawaz, child specialist at Indira Gandhi children’s Hospital says, “When a child, especially a child over two years, develops meningitis, its illness would start with a normal fever, then the child would have a headache, vomits severely, could not move his neck normally, has problems in sleeping, could not move his/her legs easily. If the disease is not treated on time, it would lead the patient to permanent disability and even death.”

What do people think about the causes of meningitis in children?

Abdul Rauf, a resident of Bamiyan province says, “I do not know anything about the causes of meningitis but want to know about it.”

A woman, a resident of Kabul city says, “My child suddenly got a headache and when we took to the hospital, the doctor diagnosed him meningitis.”

Doctor Shirnawaz says, “Meningitis is an inflammation of the middle part of the nerves and caused by both a virus and a bacterium. Sometimes measles and smallpox might also be the causes of meningitis in children. If earache and throat sore of a child are not treated on time, the germs go through the blood to the nose and the inflammatory membrane of the brain and the child might be infected with meningitis.”

How people prevent and treat meningitis at home?

A mother says, “When my child suffers from any disease, I take him/her to the clinic for essential treatment.”

Another mother from Kabul city says, “If my child suffers from throat ache or earache, I take him/her immediately to the hospital for treatment.”

Doctor Shirnawaz says, “To prevent meningitis in children, if a child gets diseases such as sore throat, earache, and pneumonia, they should be treated as soon as possible. Their hygiene should be considered; measles, smallpox, and even tuberculosis should be treated on times.”