Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the layer of tissue that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. The usual cause of meningitis is an infection with a microbe. Meningitis can be a fatal condition, and survivors can experience significant disability. Close monitoring of people with meningitis by clinical symptoms and lab work is important. One of the labs that can be used to track the progression of this condition is the C-reactive protein.
Causes
The most common causes of meningitis include viruses and bacteria. Bacterial meningitis is the most serious kind and can be life-threatening if treatment is not instituted on time or the C-reactive protein (CRP) does not decrease during treatment, as this could constitute a treatment failure. Viral meningitis is not as serious and usually clears on its own. The CRP is not useful in distinguishing between bacterial and viral meningitis.
Symptoms of Meningitis
The initial symptoms of meningitis can resemble a viral illness like the flu. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of meningitis can develop over several hours or over one to two days and include headache, neck stiffness, high fever, light sensitivity, and nausea and vomiting. Occasionally, a patient may develop a rash. As the illness progresses, changes in mental status like confusion and irritability can result, and progress into a more serious state, like loss of consciousness and coma.
Importance of CRP
The C-reactive protein, or CRP, is a nonspecific marker for infection and inflammation. According to Lab Tests Online, the CRP is not specific enough to diagnose any particular condition, but it can help health providers in the management of illnesses like meningitis. It also helps track the effect of treatment against infection and inflammation, for the CRP decreases when the person gets better and inflammation decreases.
Treatment
Treatment of bacterial meningitis includes antibiotics to try and clear the infection. Steroids can be used with certain bacteria to decrease the inflammation of the meninges. The treatment of viral meningitis is usually supportive, with intravenous fluids for dehydration, fever control medicines and pain medicines. CRP decreases rapidly if treatment is successful in bacterial meningitis, or if the infection of viral meningitis is slowly decreasing.
