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Tuberculous Meningitis.This variety of meningitis occurs chiefly in children, though it has been known to affect adults also. Its development is not sudden, as is the case with accute inflammation of the brain, but comes on slowly and gradually. There is usually pain in the head, especially in the forehead. During this time the child becomes some what pale and emaciated, the appetite is impaired, the temper becomes irritable, and there is a loss of the usual disposition for amusement and exercise. An early symptom, sometimes a prominent one, is vomiting; there is usually some fever, though not sufficient to attract attention. The pain in the head is perhaps the most prominent symptom in children old enough to talk, who frequently complain of this symptom and carry the hands to the head. The child is unusually sensitive to light and sound, prefers the dark and quiet room. In consequence of the pain to the eyes from light, the child acquires a habit of frowning to avoid the light; the face is often flushed, and sometimes it may be noticed that the countenance becomes pale and flushed in rapid succession. In younger children convulsions are often observed. Later in the disease the child becomes drowsy and stupid, there is less suffering from headache, the eyes and ears are less sensitive. The patient becomes quite stupid, answering questions reluctantly or not at all ; any attempt at conversation is apt to be incoherent and imperfect. The pupils become larger and do not contract when exposed to a bright light as they do in health. Sometimes irregular movements of the eyes are observed and a squint is frequently developed ; during sleep the child closes the eyes but partially. Sight may impaired or even lost; sometimes there is paralysis of one side of the face or of the entire body. The abdomen is sunken, the bowels usually constipated. Finally the patient becomes unconscious. Convulsions may occur at short intervals and a fatal result ensues. The duration of the disease varies from one to four weeks, and it appears to be invariably fatal. Cases, it is true, have been reported in which recovery occurred ; but it is probable that these were not instances of tuberculous meningitis but of some other similar affection. If there be no mistake in the diagnosis, treatment is futile ; the most that can be done is to relieve the patient's suffering. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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