How does an infant get meningitis?
Your baby can get meningitis when bacteria, viruses, or a fungus infecting another part of their body travels in the bloodstream to their brain and spinal cord. Out of 1,000 live births, about 0.1 to 0.4 neonates (a baby less than 28 days old) get meningitis, estimates a 2017 review.
What are signs of meningitis in babies?
Unusual grunting sounds.
How is infant meningitis treated?
Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics that are typically given intravenously in the hospital through an IV. According to the AAP, most babies who receive prompt antibiotic treatment will recover completely.
What is the most common cause of meningitis in infants?
Several strains of bacteria can cause acute bacterial meningitis, most commonly: Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). This bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants, young children and adults in the United States. It more commonly causes pneumonia or ear or sinus infections.
Can babies get meningitis from a kiss?
A newborn baby girl in Iowa died on Tuesday after contracting the HSV-1 herpes virus through a kiss. The virus, which is the same one that causes cold sores, led to meningitis, a swelling of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
What happens if a baby has meningitis?
Infants with meningitis might have different symptoms. Babies might be cranky, feed poorly, and be sleepy or hard to wake up. It may be hard to comfort them, even when they’re picked up and rocked. They also may have a fever or bulging fontanelle (soft spot on head).
How quickly does meningitis progress?
Typically, symptoms of bacterial meningitis develop within 3 to 7 days after exposure; note, this is not true for TB meningitis, which can develop much later after exposure to the bacteria. People with bacterial meningitis can have seizures, go into a coma, and even die.
Can a mom kiss her newborn?
Sweet and squishy baby cheeks are hard to resist kissing, but doing so can cause serious health consequences. In order to prevent serious health issues, anyone and everyone, including parents, should avoid kissing babies.
When do newborns get cute?
Wrinkly, red, and oftentimes furry, babies aren’t much to look at right off the bat. In fact, the results of a recent survey published in Evolution and Human Behavior found that we don’t find babies cute until three, or even six months of age. From there, babies remain at peak cuteness until around age four-and-a-half.
What age group is at highest risk for contracting meningitis?
Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but rates of disease are highest in children younger than 1 year old, with a second peak in adolescence. Among teens and young adults, those 16 through 23 years old have the highest rates of meningococcal disease.