Category: First Aid

How is meningitis diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask questions about your health, do an exam, and use one or more tests.

Lumbar puncture is the most important lab test for meningitis. It is also called a spinal tap. A sample of fluid is removed from around the spine and tested to see if it contains organisms that cause the illness.

Your doctor may also order other tests, such as blood tests, a CT scan, or an MRI.

meningitis is spread:

Germs that cause meningitis can be spread:

• During birth. A mother can pass germs that cause meningitis to her baby even if the mother doesn’t have symptoms. Delivering a baby by cesarean section rather than through the birth canal doesn’t always protect the baby from getting the infection. Both bacteria and viruses can be transmitted this way.

• Through stool. Stool could have enteroviruses or certain types of bacteria in it. Washing hands on a regular basis can help prevent you and your children from getting infected this way. More children than adults get meningitis this way.

• Through coughing and sneezing. Infected people can pass certain bacteria that are normally found in saliva or mucus in their noses and throats.

• Through kissing, sexual contact, or contact with infected blood. Some viruses also can cause meningitis and can be passed from an infected person to another person through blood, sexual contact, or kissing.

• From eating certain foods. Eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause meningitis. Those at greater risk for this include pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

• From rodents and insects (rare). For example, leptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria that is spread through water or plants contaminated by the urine of infected mice, hamsters, and rats. And the St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile viruses are spread through mosquito bites.

Prevention

Vaccines

Childhood vaccinations are the best way to prevent meningitis. These shots prevent germs from causing some of the diseases that can lead to meningitis. They include shots for:

• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

• Chickenpox

• Hib disease

• Pneumococcal disease  Getting this shot usually protects people from the type of bacteria that is most likely to cause meningitis death.

• Meningococcal diseaseThis shot is also recommended for people whose risk is higher than normal, such as travelers to countries known to have outbreaks of meningitis, people without a spleen, and those who have HIV.

Treatment:

Leave treatment of meningitis up to the professionals. If you suspect a case of meningitis get the person to the doctor sooner rather than later. That can make all the difference! Meningitis can happen to anyone anywhere, and bacterial meningitis cases are most often found on college campuses among freshman.

Home Treatment

Home treatment usually is all that is needed for most people who have viral meningitis. It includes:

• Resting. Rest promotes healing and provides relief from symptoms such as headache. Quiet activities, such as reading books, playing board games, watching videos, or listening to music, help pass the time.

• Reducing fever. Cool washcloths to the forehead, cool baths, and medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can be used to reduce fever, if needed.

• Relieving headaches and muscle aches. Minor pain usually can be relieved with medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).

• Preventing dehydration. Drink liquids such as water, juices, teas, and rehydration drinks to keep from getting dehydrated. Children may enjoy frozen juice bars or snow cones. If a person vomits, he or she needs to avoid solid food and take frequent small sips of water or other liquids.

• Watching for signs of complications during illness. The most common complications include fever lasting for longer than expected and seizures. Some people with complications during illness may need to be treated in a hospital.

Recovery:

Recovery from bacterial meningitis is often a long, slow and painful process both physically and mentally for those involved. Meningitis can leave people with irreversible brain damage and loss of hearing among many other things.

Lightning Strike Treatment:

In general, if you have no symptoms and a normal ECG, you may be sent home with a referral to any specialists if needed.

The doctor will treat those injuries that are discovered on the physical examination.

• Head injury indicated by a loss of consciousness and or confusion is frequently treated by observation in the hospital.

• Possible injury to the heart that shows up on an abnormal ECG or in blood enzyme levels is usually managed in the hospital by observation and medicine if needed.

• Ear and eye injuries are treated as needed with referral to an appropriate specialist.

• Keraunoparalysis is usually temporary but may require observation in the hospital.

• Spine injuries usually require hospitalization for observation or surgical stabilization.

• Broken bones may be treated with splinting or may require surgery.

• Symptoms of nerve injury (numbness, tingling) can generally be monitored by a neurologist.

Lightning Strike Prevention:

The following tips may help a person avoid being struck by lightning. Lightning may occur well in front of or behind a thunderstorm.

• Avoid being outside in open spaces during thunderstorms. If you hear thunder, you are in range for a lightning strike. You need to seek shelter immediately if you are outside. Lightning can travel 10-12 miles ahead of a storm and seem to come out of a clear blue sky.

• Take cover from storms, avoiding the highest elevation areas and tall objects.

• Do not carry or hold tall metal objects during thunderstorms. Drop any golf clubs, fishing poles, or baseball bats. Remove metal objects such as a baseball helmet.

• If lightning has struck the immediate area, remember that lightning can strike the same place twice.

• If you cannot find shelter, crouch down in a catcher’s stance. Put your hands on your knees or place them over your ears to protect against hearing damage from thunder. If other people are with you, stay 15 feet apart.

• A fully enclosed metal vehicle such as a car or school bus can be a good shelter. Close all windows and do not touch anything metal connected to the vehicle. A golf cart is not a suitable shelter. Heavy equipment operators may stay inside the machine’s closed canopy, but do not step out to seek shelter.

• Even if you are inside a building, close all windows and stay away from them. Do not use the land-line telephone or electrical appliances including computers. Lightning may strike outside lines and travel inside.

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last observed lightning strike or thunder before you venture outside your sheltered area.

• The simple safety slogan of the National Lightning Safety Institute is this: If you can see it (lightning), flee it (take shelter). If you can hear it (thunder), clear it (stop your activities).

When To Call a Doctor

If you suspect lice infestation (pediculosis), you can try an over-the-counter lice medicine or visit your doctor to double-check your symptoms. Call a doctor if:

• You have severe nighttime itching that does not go away after a few days.

• You see live lice or new eggs (nits) after using the medicine (prescription or nonprescription).

• You have serious side effects after using a product to treat lice.

• You have signs of a skin infection. These may include:
  • Increased pain, swelling, heat, redness, or tenderness.
  • Red streaks extending from the affected area.
  • Discharge of pus.
  • Fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher with no other obvious cause.

How do you treat serious reactions (anaphylactic and non anaphylactic)?

If you know you’re allergic to bee stings, it’s wise to carry the self-injectable antidote epinephrine, better known as adrenalin. These prescription kits are sold under the names Ana-Kit, EpiPen, and EpiPen Jr. (for children), among others. These syringes are injected into the front of the thigh, or a muscle and work to constrict the blood vessels before more damage can be done. Most of the kits come with only one syringe and on occasion more than one dose is needed. Because bee stings can happen at almost any time during the spring, summer, and early fall it is important to keep several kits on hand, especially if medical help is out of reach, for example camping trips, hikes, and on vacations where territory and bugs are unfamiliar. Keep kits at home and in the car, and if your child is allergic, leave a kit with the school nurse. Although this drug may stop a reaction and make you seem alright it is very important to go to your doctor anyway as soon as possible to be sure. In some cases the epinephrine is not enough and intravenous fluids or other treatments are needed. ALL cases of anaphylactic shock, or suspected cases should report to the emergency room immediately! The longer you wait the more damaging the effects.

If you or someone you know or live with is at risk of going into anaphylactic shock it is important to know how to use the syringes. Ask your doctor for information about classes you can attend to learn how, when, and where to administer these shots and save a life. It is also advised that a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace be worn.

Signs of anaphylactic shock:

• Reactions of this kind usually occur seconds or minutes after the sting is received, although a few cases have not reacted for up to 12 hours. When one goes into anaphylactic shock, the blood vessels dilate and begin to leak into the surrounding tissues, which may affect some organs. Below are signs and symptoms to look for.

• The skin is the first place to look. Hives, itching, swelling, redness and a stinging or burning sensation may appear. On the flip side, skin may also appear extremely pale.

• Because the blood vessels are leaking a person may feel lightheaded or faint. Some people will lose consciousness because of a rapid drop in blood pressure.

• Sometimes the throat, nose, and mouth become swollen and breathing passages become obstructed. The first signs of this are usually hoarseness or a lump in the throat. In some cases the swelling is so bad the air supply is cut off and the person experiences severe respiratory distress.

• Another respiratory problem could be the constricting of the airways, giving someone the chess tightness, wheezing and shortness of breath commonly associated with asthma.

• People may experience cramping (in women pelvic cramps may develop), diarrhea and nausea and vomiting.

• Especially if the allergen was swallowed, the gastrointestinal tract often reacts.

• Sweating

• Rapid pulse

Prevention of anaphylactic shock:

• The most important part of prevention is avoiding the allergen as best as you can. For food allergies and insect bites this may be particularly difficult as food is presented in many different ways, and insects are all around you. For some people immunotherapy is key. This therapy introduces small amounts of the allergen to the person and increases the dose over time. This is a lengthy treatment and takes at least five years, however it can be an invaluable form of protection as it is almost 100% effective.

• If your allergy involves bee stings it is important to note a few things about the bees. Honeybees can only sting you once, their stingers get stuck in the skin and they must tear away that part of their abdomen to escape. The bee dies shortly after delivering the sting. Luckily honeybees are not aggressive, like some of their relatives, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets tend to be, these bees will only sting if they are disturbed or injured. The most common sting from these bees is when they are stepped on. The best way to avoid that is to keep shoes on while walking or playing in areas where honeybees forage, such as clover patches and flowerbeds.

• Another few things to note about bees (and other stinging insects), is that they are attracted to bright colors and strong scents. Insects seeking nectar are drawn towards bright colors, and perfumes. If you are allergic to these stings it is recommended that you avoid hairspray, perfumes, and colognes and, in the case of bees, bug spray. Bug spray will not deter bees, and since the scent is strong they may even be attracted. You should also avoid areas where food is open to the environment such as garbage cans, dumps, picnic areas etc. Another interesting fact about bees and color, is that black is an irritant to bees, while blue is a comforting color, it is important to remember this when selecting bathing attire

Over view:

Hypothermia happens when someone’s body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F). Normal body temperature is around 37°C (98. 6°F).

Hypothermia can become life-threatening quickly, so it’s important to treat someone with hypothermia straight away. Severe hypothermia, when the body temperature falls below 30°C (86°F), is often fatal.

When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work normally. Left untreated, hypothermia can eventually lead to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and to death.

Hypothermia is usually caused by being in a cold environment for a long time. This could be from staying outdoors in cold conditions, falling into cold water, or from living in a poorly heated house. Elderly people, babies, homeless people and anyone who is thin and frail or not able to move around easily are particularly vulnerable.

Shivering is likely the first thing you’ll notice as the temperature starts to drop because it’s your body’s automatic defense against cold temperature — an attempt to warm itself.

Alternative Names:

Low body temperature; Cold exposure

Hypothermia Causes:

Normal body temperature is the reflection of a delicate balance between heat production and heat loss. Many of the chemical reactions necessary for human survival can occur only in specific temperature ranges. The human brain has a number of ways to maintain vital temperature. When these mechanisms are overwhelmed, heat loss happens faster than heat production, which results in hypothermia.

Primary hypothermia is due to exposure to a cold or frigid environment, with no underlying medical condition, causing disruption in temperature regulation:

Sometimes the body’s temperature control can be altered by disease. In this case, core body temperature can decrease in almost any environment. This condition is called secondary hypothermia. In secondary hypothermia, something goes wrong with the body’s heat-balancing mechanisms.

Signs and symptoms:

Mild hypothermia include:

• Shivering

• Dizziness

• Hunger

• Nausea

• Faster breathing

• Trouble speaking

• Slight confusion

• Lack of coordination

• Fatigue

• Increased heart rate

Moderate to severe hypothermia signs:

As your body temperature drops, signs and symptoms of moderate to severe hypothermia include:

• Shivering, although as hypothermia worsens, shivering stop.

• Clumsiness or lack of coordination

• Slurred speech or mumbling

• Confusion and poor decision-making, such as trying to remove warm clothes

• Drowsiness or very low energy

• Lack of concern about one’s condition

• Progressive loss of consciousness

• Weak pulse

• Slow, shallow breathing

Someone with hypothermia usually isn’t aware of his or her condition because the symptoms often begin gradually. Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking can also lead to risk-taking behavior.

Hypothermia in infants:

Typical signs of hypothermia in an infant include:

• Bright red, cold skin

• Very low energy

• A weak cry

When to see a doctor:

Call emergency or your local emergency number if you see someone with signs of hypothermia or if you suspect a person has had unprotected or prolonged exposure to cold weather or water.

If possible take the person inside, moving them carefully and slowly. Jarring movements can trigger dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove wet clothing, and cover him or her in layers of blankets while you wait for emergency help to arrive.

Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it produces it. The most common causes of hypothermia are exposure to cold-weather conditions or cold water. But prolonged exposure to any environment colder than your body can lead to hypothermia if you aren’t dressed appropriately or can’t control the conditions.

Specific conditions leading to hypothermia include:

• Wearing clothes that aren’t warm enough for weather conditions.

• Staying out in the cold too long.

• Unable to get out of wet clothes or move to a warm, dry location.

• Accidental falls in water, as in a boating accident.

• Inadequate heating in the home, especially for older people and infants.

• Air conditioning that is too cold, especially for older people and infants.

First-aid care

• Be gentle. When you’re helping a person with hypothermia, handle him or her gently. Limit movements to only those that are necessary. Don’t massage or rub the person. Excessive, vigorous or jarring movements may trigger cardiac arrest.

• Move the person out of the cold. Move the person to a warm, dry location if possible. If you’re unable to move the person out of the cold, shield him or her from the cold and wind as much as possible.

• Remove wet clothing. If the person is wearing wet clothing, remove it. Cut away clothing if necessary to avoid excessive movement.

• Cover the person with blankets. Use layers of dry blankets or coats to warm the person. Cover the person’s head, leaving only the face exposed.

• Insulate the person’s body from the cold ground. If you’re outside, lay the person on his or her back on a blanket or other warm surface.

• Monitor breathing. A person with severe hypothermia may appear unconscious, with no apparent signs of a pulse or breathing. If the person’s breathing has stopped or appears dangerously low or shallow, begin CPR immediately if you’re trained.

• Share body heat. To warm the person’s body, remove your clothing and lie next to the person, making skin-to-skin contact. Then cover both of your bodies with blankets.

• Provide warm beverages. If the affected person is alert and able to swallow, provide a warm, sweet, nonalcoholic, non caffeinated beverage to help warm the body.

• Use warm, dry compresses. Use a first-aid warm compress (a plastic fluid-filled bag that warms up when squeezed) or a makeshift compress of warm water in a plastic bottle or a dryer-warmed towel. Apply a compress only to the neck, chest wall or groin.Don’t apply a warm compress to the arms or legs. Heat applied to the arms and legs forces cold blood back toward the heart, lungs and brain, causing the core body temperature to drop. This can be fatal.

• Don’t apply direct heat. Don’t use hot water, a heating pad or a heating lamp to warm the person. The extreme heat can damage the skin or, even worse, cause irregular heartbeats so severe that they can cause the heart to stop.

Staying warm in cold weather:

Before you or your children step out into cold air, remember the advice that follows with the simple acronym COLD — cover, over exertion, layers, dry:

• Cover. Wear a hat or other protective covering to prevent body heat from escaping from your head, face and neck. Cover your hands with mittens instead of gloves. Mittens are more effective than gloves because mittens keep your fingers in closer contact.

• Overexertion. Avoid activities that would cause you to sweat a lot. The combination of wet clothing and cold weather can cause you to lose body heat more quickly.

• Layers. Wear loose fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Outer clothing made of tightly woven, water-repellent material is best for wind protection. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers hold body heat better than cotton does.

• Dry. Stay as dry as possible. Get out of wet clothing as soon as possible. Be especially careful to keep your hands and feet dry, as it’s easy for snow to get into mittens and boots.

Keeping children safe outdoors:

To help prevent hypothermia when children are outside in the winter:

• Dress infants and young children in one more layer than an adult would wear in the same conditions.

• Bring children indoors if they start shivering — that’s the first sign that hypothermia is starting.

• Have children come inside frequently to warm themselves when they’re playing outside.

• Don’t let babies sleep in a cold room.

How Do I Stay Safe?

• Try to stay away from cold places. Changes in your body that come with aging can make it harder for you to be aware of getting cold.

• You may not always be able to warm yourself. Pay attention to how cold it is where you are.

• Check the weather forecasts for windy and cold weather. Try to stay inside or in a warm place on cold and windy days. If you have to go out, wear warm clothes including a hat and gloves. A waterproof coat or jacket can help you stay warm if it’s cold and snowy.

• Wear several layers of loose clothing when it’s cold. The layers will trap warm air between them. Don’t wear tight clothing because it can keep your blood from flowing freely. This can lead to loss of body heat.

• Ask your doctor how the medicines you are taking affect body heat. Some medicines used by older people can increase the risk of accidental hypothermia. These include drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, or nausea. Some over-the-counter cold remedies can also cause problems.

• When the temperature has dropped, drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body heat.

• Make sure you eat enough food to keep up your weight. If you don’t eat well, you might have less fat under your skin. Body fat helps you to stay warm.

Staying Warm Inside:

Being in a cold building can also cause hypothermia. In fact, hypothermia can happen to someone in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept warm enough. People who are already sick may have special problems keeping warm. If someone you know is in a group facility, pay attention to the inside temperature and to whether that person is dressed warmly enough.

Even if you keep your temperature between 60 °F and 65 °F, your home or apartment may not be warm enough to keep you safe. For some people, this temperature can contribute to hypothermia. This is a special problem if you live alone because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the house or notice if you are having symptoms of hypothermia. Set your thermostat for at least 68 °F to 70 °F. If a power outage leaves you without heat, try to stay with a relative or friend.

You may be tempted to warm your room with a space heater. But, some space heaters are fire hazards, and others can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has information on the use of space heaters, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Make sure your space heater has been approved by a recognized testing laboratory.

• Choose the right size heater for the space you are heating.

• Put the heater on a flat, level surface that will not burn.

• Keep children and pets away from the heating element.

• Keep things that can catch fire like paint, clothing, bedding, curtains, and papers away from the heating element.

• If your heater has a flame, keep a window open at least one-inch and doors open to the rest of your home for good air flow.

• Turn the heater off when you leave the room or go to bed.

• Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

• Put a carbon monoxide detector near where people sleep.

• Keep an approved fire extinguisher nearby.

Cold-water safety:

Water doesn’t have to be extremely cold to cause hypothermia. Any water that’s colder than normal body temperature causes heat loss. The following tips may increase your survival time in cold water if you accidentally fall in:

• Wear a life jacket. If you plan to ride in a watercraft, wear a life jacket. A life jacket can help you stay alive longer in cold water by enabling you to float without using energy and by providing some insulation. Keep a whistle attached to your life jacket to signal for help.

• Get out of the water if possible. Get out of the water as much as possible, such as climbing onto a capsized boat or grabbing onto a floating object.

• Don’t attempt to swim unless you’re close to safety. Unless a boat, another person or a life jacket is close by, stay put. Swimming will use up energy and may shorten survival time.

• Position your body to minimize heat loss. Use a body position known as the heat escape lessening position (HELP) to reduce heat loss while you wait for assistance. Hold your knees to your chest to protect the trunk of your body. If you’re wearing a life jacket that turns your face down in this position, bring your legs tightly together, your arms to your sides and your head back.

• Huddle with others. If you’ve fallen into cold water with other people, keep warm by facing each other in a tight circle.

• Don’t remove your clothing. While you’re in the water, don’t remove clothing because it helps to insulate you from the water. Buckle, button and zip up your clothes. Cover your head if possible. Remove clothing only after you’re safely out of the water and can take measures to get dry and warm.

Hypothermia Prevention:

Prepare well before embarking on any cold weather activities.

• Be aware of the environmental conditions you will encounter.

• Make sure people are conditioned physically and have adequate nutrition and rest.

• Travel with a partner.

• Wear multiple layers of clothing, loosely fitted. Cover the head, wrists, neck, hands, and feet and try to remain dry; wool, silk or polypropylene layered clothing is better than cotton clothing.

• In an emergency, drink cold water rather than ice or snow.

• Be wary of wind and wet weather because they increase the rate of heat loss.

• Keep the homes of the elderly heated to at least 70 F (21.1 C), especially the sleeping area.

Wear proper clothing in cold temperatures to protect your body. These include:

• Mittens (not gloves)

• Wind-proof, water-resistant, many-layered clothing

• Two pairs of socks (avoid cotton)

• Scarf and hat that cover the ears (to avoid major heat loss through the top of your head)

Avoid:

• Extremely cold temperature, especially with high winds

• Wet clothes

• Poor circulation, which is more likely from age, tight clothing or boots, cramped positions, fatigue, certain medications, smoking, and alcohol

DO NOT

• Do NOT assume that someone found lying motionless in the cold is already dead.

• Do NOT use direct heat (such as hot water, a heating pad, or a heat lamp) to warm the person.

• Do NOT give the person alcohol!