Meningitis: can symptoms be confused with Ebola?
The patient suspected of having Ebola in São Paulo received a positive result for the meningococcal meningitis bacteria. Even with the new diagnosis confirmed by the Adolfo Lutz Institute, the investigation into the Ebola virus remains ongoing.
The presence of the virus cannot be ruled out even after confirmation of meningitis, as the patient could present both conditions simultaneously. Only the completion of specific analyzes can rule out the suspicion of Ebola.
The patient is a 37-year-old man, who was recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo - a country experiencing an Ebola epidemic. According to the Ministry of Health, the case was first investigated as malaria, but after the patient presented symptoms such as fever, the protocol for suspected Ebola was activated.
"There is no laboratory confirmation for Ebola virus disease. The suspicion is related to the clinical picture presented and the recent history of international travel. The tests are still being analyzed", informed the Ministry in a note sent to CNN Brasil on Saturday afternoon (30).
Also according to the ministry, the man was transferred to the Emílio Ribas Institute, where he remains hospitalized and in isolation, after presenting a serious condition with high fever, diarrhea and disorientation, and requiring intubation.
Although they are distinct diseases and caused by different agents, Ebola and meningitis can present similar symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Ebola?
Among the main symptoms caused by Ebola infection are:
- fever;
- headaches;
- weakness;
- diarrhea;
- vomiting;
- abdominal pain;
- lack of appetite;
- pain when swallowing;
- hemorrhage.
The incubation period for the virus can vary between 2 to 21 days, but most cases begin to show symptoms after 5 to 10 days.
The patient becomes contagious only when they begin to show symptoms, and the virus is transmitted through contact with secretions or body fluids from infected people or animals.
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
Meningitis consists of inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain, called meninges. The disease can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
In the case of meningococcal meningitis, such as that identified in the patient from São Paulo, the infection is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.
The main symptoms of the condition include:
- fever;
- headaches;
- stiff neck;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- lack of appetite;
- sensitivity to light;
- mental confusion;
- lack of response to stimuli.
The first signs of viral meningitis are similar to those of bacterial meningitis. In general, transmission occurs from one person to another through the air, through the respiratory tract, through droplets and secretions from the nose and throat. Another type of transmission occurs through ingestion of contaminated water and food in contact with feces.
Ebola: what it is, symptoms and treatment
Source: CNN