MENINGITIS. Tubercular, (Basilar Meningitis)

Categories: Infectious Diseases

This affection which is
also known as acute hydrocephalus (meaning water on the brain), is

essentially an acute tuberculosis in which the membranes of the brain,

sometimes of the cord bear the brunt of the attack. It is more common in

children than in adults. It is more frequent between the second and fifth

years, than in the first year. It is caused by the tubercular infection,

and follows the usual course of this disease. O dinary meningitis is rapid

and well defined in its course, with "high fever," severe pains in the

head, intense nervousness, avoidance of light and sound, loss of appetite

and constipation. These symptoms are easily understood and are generally

clearly read by those around the patient. Unfortunately in tubercular

meningitis the clearly defined symptoms are absent in the beginning, and

when the physician is called the condition is dangerous. Usually the

patient complains but little. There is a slight headache, low fever, no

heat in the head, patient is pale most of the time, has little appetite,

vomits occasionally and desires to sleep. He is nervous, stupid and lies

on his side curled up with eyes away from the light. This disease appears

mostly in delicate children, who are poor eaters and fond of books;

usually in those inheriting poor constitutions. The mortality is very

high. Parents who have thin, pale sallow children with dainty appetites,

who frequently complain of headaches and are fond of books, should be

afraid of infection from tuberculosis and make the little ones live in the

open air and keep away from school. But earlier in the lives of these

children care must be taken. A child with that pale, thin, sallow,

delicate face and poor body should be fed with the best of food and live

in the open air. I once had a family who lost their only two babies

through this disease. After the first one died I instructed them carefully

how to treat the second child. However, they loved their child foolishly

and not wisely and fed it everything it wanted, and you know the children

take an advantage of their parents. Give plenty of good, wholesome

digestible food. Dress them comfortably and warm and keep them out in the

open air. No cakes, candy, peanuts or any food that is not nourishing and

easy to digest.