An infection of the protective membranes surrounding the spinal cord and the brain is known as meningitis. It gets the name form “meninges”. Anyone, irrespective of age and gender, can suffer from this disease. The situation can rapidly turn dangerous if meningitis is not quickly diagnosed and treated. Fatal conditions like septicemia can happen due to advanced meningitis.

Given below are the ways for diagnosing and treatment options for meningitis.

Diagnosis
One should always seek an experienced doctor to ensure a correct diagnosis of a health condition. The doctor always takes the family history, the individual’s personal medical history in consideration, and other such factors into consideration. Also, the doctor would conduct a physical examination and pathological tests for diagnosing meningitis. The leading diagnostic tests for meningitis are given below:

• Imaging tests – Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain are conducted to diagnose meningitis. The images are checked to find any inflammation or swelling is present. Chest X-rays can also be done as it might show the signs of infection associated with meningitis.
• Blood culture test – A doctor goes for a blood culture test to check the growth of microorganisms in the blood. Blood samples of the patient are kept in a testing dish for some period and then observed under the microscope. The growth of bacteria can denote the condition of meningitis. Gram’s stain is also taken if the presence of bacteria is there in the blood.
• Lumbar puncture – To correctly diagnose meningitis, the doctor goes for the lumbar puncture where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected. If one has meningitis, the CSF shows low sugar levels. The presence of protein and increased white blood cells denotes the condition of meningitis. This test helps the doctor understand if the infection is caused by bacteria or virus.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can be done by the doctor to be sure about viral meningitis. This test helps the doctor to be clear about the type of treatment to choose.

Treatments of meningitis
Treatments for meningitis depend largely on the type meningitis that one suffers from.

Bacterial meningitis
Doctors generally go for corticosteroids and antibiotics to treat bacterial meningitis. The antibiotics are given to patients intravenously. One can avoid experiencing further complications with the help of antibiotics. Seizures and swelling in the brain can be controlled with the help of timely treatment.

The doctor will give the patient antibiotics of a broader spectrum until they can determine the main bacteria which are responsible to cause the disease.

Viral meningitis
No antibiotics can cure viral meningitis. It takes several weeks for a patient to recover from the condition of viral meningitis. Bed rest, medications for reducing pains, and taking plenty of fluids are usually the best course of action. The doctor might suggest corticosteroids which can reduce the pain in the body. It also helps in reducing brain swelling.

If you are affected with viral meningitis caused by the herpes virus, there are medications which can help you recover.

So, these are some diagnoses process and treatments of meningitis you should know about.