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Meningitis and Homeopathy
Homeopathic remedies will treat a person with
symptoms of meningitis. Contact us to learn more!
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Learn about
Homeoprophylaxis
About Meningitis
There are 2 types of meningitis, bacterial and viral.
Meningitis is a serious illness which can be fatal or cause
serious neurological damage as a result. Inflammation of the meninges or
meningitis is also known for an important symptom of stiffness of the
cervical region. There is an impairment and painfulness when moving
the chin to the chest. When passive flexion of the neck is attempted muscle
spasms make the neck so rigid that the head and trunk may be lifted from the
bed instead of the neck being flexed.
The
disease is spread by droplet infection (cough, sneezing) or by symptomless
carriers.
Diagnosis of Meningitis
It is essential to seek immediate
medical attention if the symptoms of meningitis develop in order to determine
whether the meningitis is viral or bacterial. Although this is a
characteristic symptom, the diagnosis is difficult in the initial phase because
of the resemblance with serious influenza. A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, to
obtain a sample of CSF diagnoses meningitis. The fluid is tested for the
presence of bacteria and other cells, as well as certain chemical changes that
are characteristic of meningitis.
A second form of meningococcal
infection is blood poisoning called septicaemia which actually is more
dangerous. Due to the toxins many body-functions become disrupted.
Throughout the body many small blood clots (CIS) are formed causing a depletion
of the blood coagulation factors and the appearance of small hemorrhages in the
skin and organs (petechial rash seen on the skin). Within the first three days a
petechial rash appears. Infection of one or more joints may occur.
Conjunctivitis is common and adrenal failure occurs due to hemorrhages in the
adrenal cortex. These symptoms can develop within a few hours. In 20 to 40% of
cases it is fatal.
Note: Bacterial meningitis can be fatal if
not treated promptly. Some children who survive the infection are
left with permanent neurological impairments, such as hearing loss or
learning disabilities.
Most Bacterial meningitis are caused by one of
three species of bacteria:
- Haemophilus
influenzae
- Neisseria
meningitidis
- Streptococcus
pneumoniae
-
Many other bacteria, including
Escherichia coli and the
bacteria that are
responsible for tuberculosis and syphilis, can also cause the
disease.
-
Bacterial meningitis can be fatal if
not treated promptly. Some children who survive the infection are
left with permanent neurological impairments, such as hearing loss or
learning disabilities.
Meningitis
only develops if these microorganisms enter a person’s bloodstream and then the
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The
CSF contains no protective white blood cells to fight infection, so once the
microorganisms enter the CSF, they multiply rapidly and make a person sick.
In fact, meningitis typically
occurs in isolated cases. Occasionally outbreaks of meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis,
also
known as meningococcal meningitis, occur in group-living situations, such
as day-care centers, college dormitories, or military barracks. A child whose
immune system is weakened due to a disease or genetic disorder is at increased
risk for developing meningitis.
Bacterial
Meningitis Symptoms
Usually begin suddenly and rapidly get worse. Warning signs of bacterial meningitis
are:
- Fever
- Nausea
- Pain in the muscles, joints or limbs, such as in the legs
or hands
- Pale or blotchy skin and blue lips
- Severe headache
- Unusually cold hands and feet or shivering
- General ill feeling
Viral Meningitis Symptoms
Viral meningitis is rarely fatal, and most people recover from the disease
completely. Good hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses is the only method
of preventing viral meningitis. The most common causes of viral meningitis
are:
- Coxsackie viruses
- Echoviruses
- Herpes viruses
- Mumps
virus
- other
viruses can also cause the disease
Viral
Meningitis Symptoms Are Like Mild Flu-Like Symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Fever
- General ill feeling
- Neck stiffness
- Muscle or joint pain
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to light
- Vomiting
Later Symptoms in
Viral Infections:
- Blotchy red rash that does not fade or change color
when you place a glass against it (rash is not always present)
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Seizures or fits
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Stiff neck – also less common in young children
- Rapid breathing rate
Note:
Breastfeeding, when given during the first months, appears to give an additional
protection against meningococcal infections.
Symptoms Include:
- Convulsions
- Floppy and unresponsive, or stiff with jerky
movements
- Irritable and not wanting to be held
- Loss of appetite
- Pale and blotchy skin
- Staring expression
- Swelling in the soft part of
their head (fontanelle).
- Unusual crying
- Very sleepy with a reluctance to wake up
- Vomiting and refusing feeds
-
Aconite
Meningitis from heat of the sun's rays after long exposure thereto, or
cerebral congestions from anger. Useful at the onset. Fear is a
marked symptom.
-
Apis mellifica
Nervous agitation; there are shrill cries, stabbing pains; the child puts
its hand to its head and screams. There is swelling in the face, scanty urine,
and the person is thirstless. Infantile cases
-
Baptisia tinctoria
Obvious mastoid developing. Tenderness and slight blush over the mastoid
region. Torments everyone with complaints.
-
Belladonna
Initial stages, where there is intense heat of the body,
strong pulse, bright red face and delirium Cerebral irritation is
marked by intense pain in the head, starting out of sleep crying out, grinding
teeth. For simple meningitis, and symptoms that are acute
and intense.
-
Bryonia
Constant chewing motion
with the mouth. Screams with pain when moved. Abdomen distended. Tongue white. Pains are sharp and stitching.
Person drinks
greedily. Livid flushed face. High temperature. Excessive sweats.
-
Camphora |
Rapid collapse. Cold, pale and no pulse, eyes sunken, face livid.
Though cold, does not want to be covered.
-
Cina maritima
Intestinal upsets. Become very restless. Constant agitation of the head, rubbing
it into the pillow. Develop internal squint.
-
Cicuta
Convulsions, twitching in
fingers and unconsciouness. The head is
spasmodically drawn back with stiff neck. Violent jerks in any part of the body.
Chokes on drinking, dilated pupils and staring look.
-
Gelsemium
Meningitis by its general symptoms. Drowsy, dull, weak limbs.
-
Cuprum
Violent convulsions, thumbs are clenched. Loud screaming. Face pale with blue lips.
For the later stages.
-
Helleborus
niger
Corresponds to a later stage of the disease. Mental confusion. Lack of
reaction. Wrinkling of one arm and one leg. Shooting pains in the head, sudden crying
out, screaming, boring head into the pillow. Pitiful
cries.
-
Meningococcinum
nosode
A major
study in Brazil shows that the Meningococcinum nosode
highly successful for all the forms of meningitis.
-
Podophyllum peltatum
Constant
rolling of the head from side to side. Retraction of
the neck. Constant chewing motion of
the mouth. Grinding of the teeth. Squint.
-
Sulphur
Useful in tubercular meningitis. Child lies in a stupor
with cold sweat on forehead. Jerking of limbs, spasms and suppressed urine.
Eruptions may be the cause.
-
Tuberculinum and
Calcarea carbonica
and Bacillinum
Both are useful remedies. They corresponds to
psoric miasm which favors
the development of the disease. Clarke advises Bacillinum, which he
found very prompt in its action.
-
Urtica urens
Urtica urens is Burnett’s great remedy for suppression of urine: 5 or 10
drops of the tincture in hot water.
-
Veratrum viride
Best remedy in acute meningitis. Intense cerebral congestion, rapid pulse, tendency to convulsion, followed
by prostration. Coldness of the surface loss of consciousness. Dilated
pupils. Labored, slow, irregular pulse.
-
Zincum Metallicum
Sub-acute form of meningitis, especially if tubercular and
due to suppressed eruptions. Febrile disturbance is absent or slight, there are
marked twitching, jerking and hypersensitivity of all the senses and skin and
restlessness of the feet. At the beginning there are sharp lancinating pains
and great exhaustion of nerves.
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