How does meningococcal infection develop in children?

1 Causes of the disease

The development of the disease in the child's body is triggered by the penetration of the causative agent of meningococcal infection - diplococcus Neisseria meningitidis. The appearance of the bacteria, when viewed in a microscope, resembles coffee beans or beans, they are arranged in pairs.

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The spread of meningococcus is not determined by geographical location or a specific habitat, it can be found everywhere. At temperatures around 50 ° C, the bacteria can die within 5 minutes, if the temperature is below -10 ° C - after 2 hours.

The main reason for the spread of meningococcemia is bacterio-carrier. Most often, the carrier of the bacterium is an adult who does not even guess his unpleasant role.

The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. If the bacteria penetrate deep into the mucosa, an inflammation site forms at the site of penetration, then it leads to the development of meningococcemia. In the case of infection in the submucosa, the risk of nasopharyngitis develops. And only if the bacteria remain on the surface of the mucous membrane, a person becomes the carrier of infection.

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The bacterium that has acquired the ability to penetrate the blood quickly spreads through the body with blood flow and, settling in various organs, has a strong intoxication effect on the human body.

Meningococcal nasopharyngitis and generalized form of meningococcal infection are recognized as sources of infection.

It should be noted that 80 cases of detected menigococcal infection from 100 recorded were observed in children who were barely five years old. The remaining 20 cases fell on young people falling within the age range of 18 and 30 years. Adults, however, are more likely to be carriers of a pathogenic bacterium.

2 Symptoms of pathology

Meningococcemia is inherently meningococcal sepsis. The course of the disease can be in 3 possible forms:

  • is easy;
  • of medium gravity;
  • heavy, or lightning-fast form.

The period of development of the disease from the moment the harmful bacteria enter the body and until the appearance of the first clinical symptoms takes a period of 1 to 10 days.

The sudden appearance of signs of the disease is indicated by a sudden jump in body temperature to 39-40 degrees. Many parents of a sick child can, to within a minute, name the time in which the disease manifested itself. This suggests that the symptoms are quite bright.

Together with the feverish condition of the patient, marked symptoms of intoxication of the body become apparent. They are expressed in muscle weakness and pain, a sharp decrease in appetite, a strong sense of thirst, blanching of the skin.

In addition, there are manifestations of such clinical signs as an increase in the number of heartbeats, a decrease in blood pressure, a rapid increase in respiration, the appearance of dyspnea, a decrease in the separation of urine, constipation or diarrhea, a rash on the skin.

Eruption on the skin is a very indicative symptom of this disease. The appearance of the first signs of a rash can be noticed already in the initial hours of the development of the disease. Usually, this kind of rashes have a stellate shape, their size ranges from a couple of millimeters to several centimeters. The asterisks are quite dense in meningococcemia, slightly protruding above the surface of the skin. Often, their occurrence is noted on the limbs of the body.

Severe form of the disease can be accompanied by the spread of the rash all over the body surface. On the extremities, the rash becomes like a hemorrhage or cadaveric blemishes. The face is usually not spread by the rash, but in rare cases it is likely that it will appear on the tip of the nose or on the ears.

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The most severe form of the disease is the form in which individual rashes merge and become like long gloves or boots. Unfortunately, such a condition of the patient does not give him a chance to survive. The development of the disease in other cases can lead to necrosis of the tissues of the extremities, as well as to gangrene.

Despite the fact that the disease has pronounced characteristics, its development should be supported by diagnostic tests. To confirm a preliminary diagnosis, the following diagnostic types should be performed:

  • blood test;
  • study of cerebrospinal fluid;
  • seeding of biomaterial for the study of nutrient medium;
  • revealing the presence of antibodies to meningococcus;
  • screening for the diagnosis of meningococcal DNA.

3 Therapeutic measures

The main point in the treatment of meningococcemia is antibiotic therapy. The efficacy of Levomycetin succinate is very effective. Unlike penicillins, it does not allow the toxic reactions to develop to the fullest.

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It is necessary to conduct an active detoxification of the body. In the process of treatment, glucocorticosteroids, drugs for lowering blood pressure, vitamins, antihistamines are used.

Parents also require a careful attitude to the health of their child. And with possible manifestations of the disease, you must immediately contact an ambulance and a local pediatrician.

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