Meningitis medication and other treatment based on the cause

Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the protective membranes of the brain and spinal nervous system (meninges). This inflammation can be caused by viral and bacterial infections or the use of drugs and autoimmune diseases. The cause of meningitis and the severity of the symptoms determine what treatment is needed. The main treatment for meningitis is medical drugs, but you can also speed up recovery through home remedies.

Medication for meningitis based on the cause

More than just treating symptoms, the goal of treating meningitis is to reduce swelling and inflammation of the meninges and help the body heal more quickly.

Meningitis treatment can vary depending on what caused the inflammation. Not all causes of meningitis are dangerous, but rare cases of infectious meningitis can generally cause more severe symptoms that require specific treatment.

The cause of meningitis will be known after you perform a lumbar puncture examination by taking the cerebrospinal fluid that lines the lower spine.

The following are drugs used to treat inflammation of the lining of the brain according to the cause.

1. Viral meningitis medication

In general, inflammation of the lining of the brain caused by a virus will show milder symptoms, so it can be treated with or without medication. In some cases, viral meningitis can get better on its own.

However, when a viral infection causes severe and bothersome symptoms of meningitis, the doctor may need to give antiviral drugs such as acyclovir and corticosteroids (dexamethasone) to relieve the swelling around the brain. However, acyclovir is only effective when a patient with meningitis has inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the symptoms it causes.

The doctor may also give you anticonvulsants to control seizure symptoms.

2. Bacterial meningitis medication

Meningitis caused by bacteria needs to be watched out because it can have serious health effects. One of them is sepsis, which is an infection in the blood vessels. The reason is, before reaching the lining of the brain, the bacteria that cause meningitis will spread through the blood vessels.

In general, treatment for inflammation of the lining of the brain caused by bacteria needs to be done as soon as possible. In most cases, the symptoms are quite serious, such as meningococcal meningitis (caused by bacteria Neisseria meningitidis) thus requiring emergency treatment in the hospital.

As an initial treatment step, the doctor will provide injectable or intravenous antibiotics. The type of antibiotic used actually needs to adjust to the bacteria that causes it, but in the first step of treatment, the antibiotics are given, such as penicillin, ampicillin, or ceftriaxone.

According to the study entitled Diagnosis and Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis , antibiotics need to be consumed for 7 or 10-14 days, but the dosage can differ depending on the type of bacteria that causes meningitis.

For infections caused by group B Streptococcus bacteria, antibiotics can even be given for 14-21 days. Corticosteroid medications may also be needed to reduce swelling in the brain.

The types of antibiotics commonly used as drugs for inflammation of the lining of the brain include:

• Cetrifaxone
• Combination of vancomcyin and chloramphenicol or ceftazidime if an allergic reaction occurs to cetrifaxone
• Fluoroquinolones, such as moxifloxacin, trovafloxacin, and gatifloxacin,
• Dexamethasone

3. Treatment of other meningitis

Meningitis can also be caused by a yeast infection. To overcome this, antifungal drugs are needed, such as:

• Amphotericin B
• Itraconazole
• Fluconazole

However, this treatment for meningitis can have serious side effects. Therefore, the treatment will wait for the results of laboratory tests that state the cause of the meningitis is a fungal infection.

What about meningitis that is not caused by infection, such as drug allergies and autoimmune diseases? Usually, if the meningitis is not caused by infection, the treatment given is corticosteroid drugs by infusion or tablets (oral).

In addition to giving corticosteroids to treat inflammation, patients who experience meningitis due to certain diseases must also get drugs to treat the disease that causes it. If meningitis is caused by cancer, for example, you still need to undergo chemotherapy for cancer in addition to taking medication for meningitis.

Meningitis can also cause fluid buildup in the brain. Your doctor may also prescribe a diuretic to remove excess fluid from the body.

In severe cases, some further meningitis treatment may also be needed, such as:

• Respiratory apparatus
• Medicines to lower blood pressure
• Surgery to remove dead or damaged tissue due to infection
• Treatment of skin wounds caused by sepsis

Home remedies for meningitis

Meningitis can be cured, but most sufferers still experience symptoms for a long time during the recovery period.

These symptoms of meningitis can be very annoying and cause intense pain. One of the main symptoms is a stiff neck. In severe symptom conditions, neck and shoulders can experience cramps due to ongoing pain.

You can relieve the symptoms of meningitis and several other disorders with home remedies, such as:

1. Using a brace or support to reduce pain and stiffness in the neck. The use of this tool also makes the neck painless when lying down.
2. Ice compresses on the neck, shoulders, and head that feel sore and stiff.
3. Take pain relievers, such as the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen) to relieve pain in the neck, shoulders, headaches, and fever.

Another important way to treat and recover meningitis is to increase endurance. Make sure you consume plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods. That way, the recovery period can be faster.

There are various ways to treat meningitis. The most appropriate treatment for meningitis needs to be tailored to the cause and severity of the symptoms. Immediately get checked for meningitis to the doctor when you experience symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, severe headache, muscle and joint pain or nausea and vomiting.