Any medical professionals out there? I need some help.

[Amber St. Clare]

The husband was hit HARD with the flu. He was tested for strep. That came back negative, but the test came back positive for a form of meningitis and the dr. told me to get him to the ER quickly. We were taken in fast, the intake person wore a mask, they gave hm one, but didn't bother to give me one, we were put in isolaton.

He had absolutely no neck stiffness or pain anywhere, no headache. They tested all his reflexes and was fine. His sore throat was healing. He was given IV Cipro. The dr. mentioned a spinal tap, but the infectious disease specialist said since he didn't have a headache or neck pain he didn't want to put hm thru it. The diagnosis was Flu with "colonizing meningitis". He was NOT given any antibiotics when he was discharged, he was told the Cirpo was enough.

We were told conflicting information that he does, and then that he doesn't, have the bacteria in his body. Has anyone ever heard about this?

Thanks.

 

[cm366]

Hi Amber,

First for the caveat - I am not a doctor and my advice is worth exactly what you've paid for it. For the purposes of this conversation, let's assume I know nothing more than what anyone can read on the WHO, CDC and Medscape's sites. (good places to look, by the way )

Second - I'm sorry to hear your hubby's unwell, and that it's been as scary and confusing as this sounds. Hope we can help a little!

Meningitis refers specifically to an infection (or inflammation) of the space around the brain and it can't be diagnosed from swabbing the throat or testing the blood - you have to test the fluid that surrounds the brain, which you get from the spine (they're connected). As the folks in the ED said, they're generally pretty reluctant to test that fluid unless you have strong clinical indicators of problems with your brain, in part because that space is normally sterile - opening it up to get the fluid can actually introduce an infection that wasn't there previously. There might be some confusion though, because one of the two most common causes of meningitis is called Neisseria meningitidis. It's a fairly common bacterium that lives in the nose and it's found in lots of people who have no symptoms whatsoever. When you Google it, you'll find it's linked to epidemics and high mortality risk - KEEP READING. There are a bunch of different subtypes and the CDC & WHO will point out that 10-20% of the population carry one or more at all times. If they'd swabbed the throats of the next 5 patients to walk into your doctor's office, they'd likely have found someone with a sore toe who also had the same bacterium in their nose or throat.

When did everything take place? Hope you're all well now!

 

[Mico]

^well said

 

[minousbijoux]

Hi Amber,

First for the caveat - I am not a doctor and my advice is worth exactly what you've paid for it. For the purposes of this conversation, let's assume I know nothing more than what anyone can read on the WHO, CDC and Medscape's sites. (good places to look, by the way )

Second - I'm sorry to hear your hubby's unwell, and that it's been as scary and confusing as this sounds. Hope we can help a little!

Meningitis refers specifically to an infection (or inflammation) of the space around the brain and it can't be diagnosed from swabbing the throat or testing the blood - you have to test the fluid that surrounds the brain, which you get from the spine (they're connected). As the folks in the ED said, they're generally pretty reluctant to test that fluid unless you have strong clinical indicators of problems with your brain, in part because that space is normally sterile - opening it up to get the fluid can actually introduce an infection that wasn't there previously. There might be some confusion though, because one of the two most common causes of meningitis is called Neisseria meningitidis. It's a fairly common bacterium that lives in the nose and it's found in lots of people who have no symptoms whatsoever. When you Google it, you'll find it's linked to epidemics and high mortality risk - KEEP READING. There are a bunch of different subtypes and the CDC & WHO will point out that 10-20% of the population carry one or more at all times. If they'd swabbed the throats of the next 5 patients to walk into your doctor's office, they'd likely have found someone with a sore toe who also had the same bacterium in their nose or throat.

When did everything take place? Hope you're all well now!

Wow, once again, I'm impressed with what you've written - I'm gonna become a little CM groupie!

 

[rosetta]

Management is sound. More risk than benefit from a spinal tap in his case.

If he gets neck stiffness, headache or photophobia, take him back to the ER ASAP (I'm a doctor)

 

[minousbijoux]

Oh, and sorry for ignoring the obvious! Amber, I hope everyone is healthy or on their way back in your household. I'm sorry for the confusion as I, too, would want a lot of clarification and detail if I were told there was even the remotest chance of meningitis in a loved one.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner. I appreciate the feedback.

We went to the ER Monday afternoon. That's when he had the Cipro IV. At that point he had been down for a week and been pretty much sleeping 18 hours a day. I managed to get him to stay home Tuesday, but we insisted on going back to work on Wed. He's going back to his primary this week-end for another culture and check up. Says he's feeling better, he looks a bit better but is still tired.

I haven't been affected at all, other than my nerves, but I've got an Actemra infusion Monday for my arthritis that will knock me for a loop.

 

[Mico]

Glad he's feeling better!