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Neonatal meningitis is a serious medical condition in infants that is rapidly fatal if untreated.Meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes of the central nervous system, is more common in the neonatal period (infants less than 44 days old) than any other time in life, and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality globally.
During an outbreak in Romania and in Spain viral meningitis was more common among adults. [30] While, people aged younger than 15 made up 33.8% of cases. [30] In contrast in Finland in 1966 and in Cyprus in 1996, Gaza 1997, China 1998 and Taiwan 1998, the incidence of viral meningitis was higher among children. [31] [32] [33] [34]
Viral meningitis tends to run a more benign course than bacterial meningitis. Herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus may respond to treatment with antiviral drugs such as aciclovir , but there are no clinical trials that have specifically addressed whether this treatment is effective. [ 22 ]
Infants requiring intravascular catheters and other invasive procedures are at increased risk for developing LOS. [3] There are many etiologies of neonatal infection, including bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens. The source of infectious bacteria and other pathogens is often the maternal gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract.
Additionally, the probability of developing aseptic meningitis increases when patients have a case of mumps or herpes. [2] Symptoms of meningitis caused by an acute viral infection last between one and two weeks. When aseptic meningitis is caused by cytomegalovirus 20 percent of individuals face mortality or morbidity. If left untreated it can ...
Early-onset neonatal sepsis is found to be 0.77 to 1 per 100,000 live births in the U.S. In premature babies, the incidence and mortality rates are higher due to the weakness of their immune system. For infants with low birth weight, cases of early-onset sepsis is found to be about 26 per 1,000 and 8 per 1,000 live births.
Younger children or infants may present with irritability, poor appetite and fever. [7] Neurological examinations usually reveal a drowsy or confused person. Stiff neck, due to the irritation of the meninges covering the brain, indicates that the patient has either meningitis or meningoencephalitis. [8]
CNS disease may appear like bacterial or other viral meningitis's. [3] Conjunctivitis due to bacterial infection or other viruses can look like neonatal herpes eye disease. [3] Bacterial sepsis, viral hepatitis, and other infections including cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rubella may mimic the disseminated type. [3]