It has been discovered a new way to detect bacterial meningitis in children It brings solutions in several aspects.
But let's start by understanding the disease a bit. Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It has two variants: a viral and a bacterial one, which can be lethal.
Until now the only way to differentiate one from another was through a cell culture that takes three days.
Meanwhile an aggressive treatment with antibiotics was applied to the child as prevention.
The new test, designed by American pediatricians, is 98% effective and will allow you to quickly and easily identify the type of meningitis through five risk factors.
Called "Bacterial Meningitis Scale" measures the level of pleocytosis (higher white blood cell count) in the cerebrospinal fluid and thus determine the risk of bacterial meningitis.
It can be used in most cases to rule out bacterial meningitis that is not as frequent (occurs in one of every 25 cases), but very serious.
On the one hand, its early detection will be the key to starting the correct treatment as soon as possible, fundamental in such a dangerous disease.
On the other hand, it will reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, since when in doubt, all children who may be affected by meningitis were admitted.
The strong antibiotic treatment will also be avoided, which is of no use if the disease is of viral origin.
Another advance to thank for is the health of our children.
Vïa | The World Health More information | Journal of The American Medical Association On Babies and more | Meningitis vaccine throughout Spain
