Meningitis and occupational therapy

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling.

However injuries, cancer, certain drugs and other types of infections also can cause meningitis. It is important to know the actual cause of meningitis because the treatment differs depending on the case.

Sign and symptoms

Fever, cold hands and feet.

Vomiting.

Drowsy, difficult to wake.

Memory loss

Severe muscle pain.

Pale, blotchy skin. Spots/rash

Severe headache.

Stiff neck.

Joint problem

Difficulty in walking

Types of meningitis

Viral Meningitis:

Viruses are the most common cause of meningitis, usually resulting in a benign and self-limiting illness requiring no specific therapy. It is much less serious than bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is usually part of bacteramic illness, although direct spread from adjacent focus of infection in the ear, skull fracture or sinus can be causative. The meningococcus and other common causes of meningitis are normal commensals of the upper respiratory tract. New and potentially pathogenic strains are acquired by air- borne route but close contact is necessary. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis occur particularly in cramped living condition or where the climate is hot and dry. The organism involves through the naso pharynx, producing septicemia and leading to meningitis.

Tuberculous Meningitis

Tubeeculous meningitis is now uncommon in developed countries in previously healthy individuals, although it is still seen in those born in endemic areas and in the immuno compromised. It remains common in developing countries and is seen more frequently as secondary infections in patients with the acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Treatment of Meningitis

A group of health professional work with the patient of meningitis. It includes:

Neurologist

Occupational Therapist

Physiotherapist

Speech therapist

Psychologist or psychiatrist

Occupational Therapy treatment

Meningitis may leave with difficulty doing daily tasks. If that’s the case, an occupational therapist can help to learn to do what patient did before. An occupational therapist help function at home or at work by giving exercises that increase strength, or by giving you adaptive equipment to help with reaching, cooking, bathing, and other activities.

Occupational therapist firstly assesses the patient and identifies patients’ weakness and strength. According to assessment, occupational therapist use different techniques as a treatment method. Mainly occupational therapist works for making independent to the people into their daily activities.

According to problem occupational therapist provide following treatment:

-Hand related problem: Occupational therapist engage the patient in different hand activity like bilateral hand activity, grasping and releasing activity, fine motor activity, in - hand manipulation activity etc.

Walking difficulty due to poor balance: Practice different balancing activity in sitting and standing position

 Functional gait retraining like shopping.

Cognitive impairment: Occupational therapist uses different memory game for improving memory problem..

Problems in Activities of Daily Living ( ADL's) : According to activity analysis occupational therapist practice the

patients in different Activity like dressing, eating, bathing, combing hair etc.

Prognosis

Viral meningitis usually resolves in 7–10 days and is fatal in fewer than 1 percent of cases.

Patients with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and patients younger than 2 years old or over the age of 60 have a poor prognosis. Bacterial meningitis is fatal in as many as 25 percent of cases.

Prompt medical treatment (i.e., antibiotics) reduces the risk for dying from bacterial meningitis to less than 15 percent.

Viral meningitis usually resolves in 7–10 days and is fatal in fewer than 1 percent of casesPatients with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and patients younger than 2 years old or over the age of 60 have a poor prognosis. Bacterial meningitis is fatal in as many as 25 percent of cases.

Prompt medical treatment (i.e., antibiotics) reduces the risk for dying from bacterial meningitis to less than 15 percent.

 

Meningitis and occupational therapy

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However injuries, cancer, certain drugs and other types of infections also can cause meningitis. It is important to know the actual cause of meningitis because the treatment differs depending on the case. Sign and symptoms Fever, cold hands and feet. Vomiting. Drowsy, difficult to wake. Memory loss Severe muscle pain. Pale, blotchy skin. Spots/rash Severe headache. Stiff neck. Joint problem Difficulty in walking Types of meningitis Viral Meningitis: Viruses are the most common cause of meningitis, usually resulting in a benign and self-limiting illness requiring no specific therapy. It is much less serious than bacterial meningitis. Bacterial Meningitis Bacterial meningitis is usually part of bacteramic illness, although direct spread from adjacent focus of infection in the ear, skull fracture or sinus can be causative. The meningococcus and other common causes of meningitis are normal commensals of the upper respiratory tract. New and potentially pathogenic strains are acquired by air- borne route but close contact is necessary. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis occur particularly in cramped living condition or where the climate is hot and dry. The organism involves through the naso pharynx, producing septicemia and leading to meningitis. Tuberculous Meningitis Tubeeculous meningitis is now uncommon in developed countries in previously healthy individuals, although it is still seen in those born in endemic areas and in the immuno compromised. It remains common in developing countries and is seen more frequently as secondary infections in patients with the acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Treatment of Meningitis A group of health professional work with the patient of meningitis. It includes: Neurologist Occupational Therapist Physiotherapist Speech therapist Psychologist or psychiatrist Occupational Therapy treatment Meningitis may leave with difficulty doing daily tasks. If thats the case, an occupational therapist can help to learn to do what patient did before. An occupational therapist help function at home or at work by giving exercises that increase strength, or by giving you adaptive equipment to help with reaching, cooking, bathing, and other activities. Occupational therapist firstly assesses the patient and identifies patients weakness and strength. According to assessment, occupational therapist use different techniques as a treatment method. Mainly occupational therapist works for making independent to the people into their daily activities. According to problem occupational therapist provide following treatment: -Hand related problem: Occupational therapist engage the patient in different hand activity like bilateral hand activity, grasping and releasing activity, fine motor activity, in - hand manipulation activity etc. Walking difficulty due to poor balance: Practice different balancing activity in sitting and standing position Functional gait retraining like shopping. Cognitive impairment: Occupational therapist uses different memory game for improving memory problem.. Problems in Activities of Daily Living ( ADLs) : According to activity analysis occupational therapist practice the patients in different Activity like dressing, eating, bathing, combing hair etc. Prognosis Viral meningitis usually resolves in 710 days and is fatal in fewer than 1 percent of cases. Patients with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and patients younger than 2 years old or over the age of 60 have a poor prognosis. Bacterial meningitis is fatal in as many as 25 percent of cases. Prompt medical treatment (i.e., antibiotics) reduces the risk for dying from bacterial meningitis to less than 15 percent. Viral meningitis usually resolves in 710 days and is fatal in fewer than 1 percent of casesPatients with meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and patients younger than 2 years old or over the age of 60 have a poor prognosis. Bacterial meningitis is fatal in as many as 25 percent of cases. Prompt medical treatment (i.e., antibiotics) reduces the risk for dying from bacterial meningitis to less than 15 percent.