Meningitis Definition, Etiology and Clinical Manifestations

Definition of Meningitis

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges (the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and is caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus organs (Smeltzer, 2001).

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of the brain with inflammatory piamater, arachnoid and in a milder degree of the brain and spinal cord tissues were superficial. (Neurology capita selekta, 1996)

Meningitis is an inflammation of the arachnoid and pia mater (lepto meningens) of the brain and spinal cord. Bacteria and viruses are the most common cause of meningitis, although fungi can also cause. Bacterial meningitis is more common. Early detection and treatment will give more better results according to Revelation Widagdo et al (2008:105)

Etiology of Meningitis

Meningitis caused by a virus is generally harmless, will recover without specific treatment and care. But bacterial meningitis can lead to serious conditions, such as brain damage, hearing loss, lack of ability to learn, can even cause death. While meningitis is caused by a fungus is very rare, this type generally affects people with damaged immune (immune system) as in patients with AIDS.

Bacteria that can cause meningitis attack include:
1. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
These bacteria are the most common cause of meningitis in infants or children. This type of bacteria can also cause pneumonia, ear and nasal cavity (sinus).

2. Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus).
This bacterium is the second most after Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract and then the bacteria enter the bloodstream.

3. Haemophilus influenzae (Haemophilus).
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a type of bacteria that can also cause meningitis. This type of virus as the cause upper respiratory infections, middle ear and sinuses. Vaccine (Hib vaccine) has shown a decrease in the number of cases of meningitis caused by these bacteria.

4. Listeria monocytogenes (listeria).
This is one type of bacteria that can cause meningitis. These bacteria can be found in many places, in the dust and in contaminated food. Food is usually a type of cheese, hot dogs and bacon sandwich which is derived from the bacterium local animal (pet).

5. Other bacteria that can also cause meningitis are Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Clinical Manifestations of Meningitis

• Early in the disease, fatigue, changes in power to remember, change in behavior
• In accordance with the rapid course of the disease the patient becomes stuporous
• Headache
• Sore muscle pain
• Pupillary reaction to light. Photofobia when light is directed at the patient's eye.
• Dysfunction of the nerves III, IV, VI
• Motor movement at the beginning of the disease is usually normal and common in the advanced stages of hemiparesis, hemiplagia, and decreased muscle tone
• Reflex positive Brudzinski and Kernig reflex
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tachycardia
• Convulsions
• Patients feel fear and anxiety

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Clinical Manifestations of Appendicitis

Clinical Manifestations of Appendicitis

• Right lower quadrant pain felt and is usually accompanied by mild fever, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
• Local tenderness at the point Mc.burney, when done pressure.
• Tenderness may be encountered off.
• The degree of muscle spasm and tenderness if there is constipation or diarrhea are not depending on the severity of the infection and the location of the appendix.
• If the appendix behind the caecum circular, pain and tenderness can feel the lumbar region: when the tip is in the pelvis, these signs can be detected only by examination of the rectal examination.
• Pain on defecation show ends appendix is near the rectum; pain during urination indicates that the tip of the appendix is close to the bladder or ureter.
• There is stiffness in the bottom of the right testis muscles can occur.
• Signs Rovsing can arise with left lower quadrant palpation paradoxical that causes pain felt in the lower right quadrant. If paralytic ileus, and the patient's condition deteriorated.
• In elderly patients, the signs and symptoms of appendicitis can vary greatly. The signs can be very dubious, suggesting destruction of the bowel or other disease processes. Patients may have no symptoms until he suffered a ruptured appendix. The incidence of perforation of the appendix is higher in the elderly, because many of these patients do not seek medical care as soon as patients are younger.

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Clinical Manifestations of Acute Gastritis and Chronic Gastritis

Clinical Manifestations of Acute Gastritis and Chronic Gastritis

Acute Gastritis

Acute Gastritis is very varied, ranging from very mild, asymptomatic, up to very heavy, which can lead to death. In the case of very heavy, very prominent symptoms are:

1. Hematemetis and melena that can last a very great shock to occur due to blood loss.
2. In most cases, symptoms are very mild and even asymptomatic. Complaints such as pain that arises in the gut, usually mild and can not be appointed to the appropriate location.
3. Sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
4. GI bleeding is often the only symptom.
5. In the case of very light bleeding, manifests as occult blood in the stool and will be found in physical signs of deficiency anemia with no apparent etiology.
6. On physical examination found no abnormalities except usually those with severe bleeding, causing signs and symptoms of hemodynamic disorders as real as hypotension, pallor, cold sweat, tachycardia until the disturbance of consciousness.

Chronic Gastritis

1. Varied and unclear.
2. Feeling of fullness, anorexia.
3. Epigastric distress that is not real.
4. Early satiety.

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