1. Cope With a Minor Case of Viral Meningitis
If you were lucky enough to get your meningitis diagnosis promptly and you're suffering from a mild case of the viral form of the disease, you'll probably be directed to manage it on your own, at home. Usually, self-care requires you to be vigilant about maintaining proper hydration while using pain medicines to keep your fever and headaches under control. If you follow your doctor's directions, you'll usually start feeling better after a few days and you'll get over your case of viral meningitis in 2 weeks or less.
2. Treat Bacterial Meningitis With Antibiotics
Your doctor will treat bacterial meningitis with much more caution, since it's more serious and tends to create more difficult complications. The first line of defense will be a regimen of antibiotics, which can cure meningitis by destroying the bacteria causing your symptoms.
Should you contract a serious case of bacterial meningitis, you'll be hospitalized and set up with intravenous antibiotics. However, cases that aren't an immediate threat to your overall health can be managed effectively with medicines in pill form.
3. Stay Hydrated
Sometimes, it's necessary to outfit patients with an intravenous-fluid drip because the stomach-related symptoms of meningitis make it difficult or impossible to hold down liquids. You have to be doubly careful to make sure you're not only taking in enough water, but also that you have enough electrolytes in your blood. Fighting off an infection robs your body of liquids, and meningitis symptoms like vomiting deplete your body's water reserves even further.
4. Manage Secondary Symptoms
You're likely to develop a high fever when you catch meningitis, which you can manage by confining yourself to a room with plenty of fresh air and circulation while taking in plenty of fluids and using over-the-counter drugs to manage pain and swelling.
More serious secondary symptoms include seizures, which may need to be managed with a special class of medicines known as anticonvulsants. This includes drugs like phenobarbital and Dilantin (phenytoin). You might also have to take corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, to relieve swelling and pressure developing in your brain, a symptom your doctor will keep close tabs on, as it can cause serious medical complications.
5. Watch Your Blood
Your doctor has to keep a close eye on the nutrient and chemical levels in your blood, since meningitis can deplete your blood sugar and your sodium levels. Thus, you'll be subject to regular blood tests to monitor the state of your blood, and your doctor will intervene with treatments to cure any potential problems.
