Meningitis – First Aid
Petr Dominik
Zápatí prezentace2
Learning objectives
̶ Student will learn warning signs of meningitis.
̶ Student will learn what is meningeal phenomena.
3
Meningitis - inflammation of the meninges
• Life threatening disease
• Worldwide occurrence
• Occurrence across all ages
• Several pathogens – most common - bacteria
• Danger in delay
• Fast transport to the hospital required
• Diagnosis and initiation of therapy optimally within an hour
• High mortality, late consequences after the disease
4
Meningitis - warning signs
• Different in different age groups
• Newborns - nonspecific
• Irritation or apathy, vomiting, eating disorders, arched large
fontanelle, less commonly opposition of the neck and convulsions
• Childhood
• Fever and vomiting, inability to pull the head to the chest, less
often light-headedness, convulsions, impaired consciousness
• Subcutaneous bleeding is possible in all age groups - PETECHIA
5
Meningitis - warning signs
Adults
• Triad: Fever, opposition of the neck,
altered mental status
• Other common symptoms:
Headaches
Light intolerance - PHOTOPHOBIA
Noise intolerance - PHONOPHOBIA
In all age groups possible bleeding up to
subcutaneous tissue - PETECHIA
zdroj: cdc.gov
Zdroj: zdravotnickydenik.cz6
Meningitis – warning signs
7
Meningitis - meningeal phenomena
• Opposition (stiffening) of the neck - the inability of the patient to pull head to
his chest
• Reflective bending of the legs in the knees during a passive forward bend of
the head
• The patient has legs in flection when seated and at least one hand in a row
• In meningitis, the patient already feels pain in the lumbar region when the
legs are slightly raised and bends at the knees
zdroj: odbornost.avenier.cz8
Meningitis – meningeal phenomena
Picture: A – Kernig sign, B – Brudzinsky sign
Pain
Pain
9
Meningitis – prehospital first aid
• Recognition of warning signs
• Organization of transport to the hospital - emergency medical
service (better 155 than 112)
• Calming the patient and the environment
• Position with raised upper half of the body
• Follow the basic life functions - breath, pulse, consciousness
• Avoid heat loss in children
• Don't underestimate the situation
• Wait for the arrival of the emergency medical crew
10
Learning outcomes
• Student is able to evaluate the state of consciousness, breathing
and circulation.
• Student is able to recognize the symptoms of CNS diseases.
• Studetn knows basic principles of first aid in CNS infections.
Simulation Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University
2020