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.