Treatment+Meningitis-Timothy

Causes Effects  Treatment Prevention Epidemiology Notes Bibliography || __**Treatment**__ Testing for meningitis is done in a hospital microbiology laboratory. Two samples are taken, a blood sample and a cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. CSF is collected in a lumbar puncture trained medical personnel insert a needle into the area surrounding and draw out a small amount of fluid. These samples are sent to the labroatory where a microscopy test and a culture test is used. The CSF is looked at to see if it looks cloudy or contain white blood cells. Bacteria samples may also be grown on agar plates, this process may take up to 24 hours. Many laboratories now have the capability to make rapid tests that determine the presence of bacterial meningitis living or dead. Viral meningitis can not be detected through these tests as they are too small
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 * Testing for Meningitis**

Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics from a needle as taking them orally is too slow. If the correct anitbiotics aren't administered a patient is at high risk of dying. Those with bacterial meningitis are likely to be hospitalized for at least a few days. They may need to satay in an intensive care unit or ICU where the patient is constantly monitored by doctors and nurses.
 * Bacterial Meningitis Treatment**



If you are diagnosed with viral meningitis, all you need is rest. Antibiotics don't kill meningitis viruses so don't try them. Viral meningitis is rarely if ever fatal but if yuo have severe viral meningits you may need to be hospitalized. You may take a painkiller to ease the nausea or headaches or other medication if you develop a high fever. Your doctor should be able to prescribe the appropriate medication for treating viral meningitis
 * Viral Meningitis Treatment**

Quiz Question: What two things are taken from the body in order to test for meningitis?