Final answer:
Neonatal meningitis exhibits symptoms such as temperature instability, apnea, and irritability, with severe cases showing seizures and bulging fontanel. Diagnosis is through CSF analysis and treated with β-lactam antibiotics, but mortality can be 10%.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reliable Signs of Meningitis in Neonates
The most reliable signs concerning for meningitis in neonates can vary between early onset and late-onset disease. Early onset typically occurring in the first week of life and is often contracted from the mother, while late-onset occurs between 1 week and 3 months and may come from other sources. Some common symptoms of neonatal meningitis include temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, feeding difficulty, irritability, and limpness. In severe cases, signs such as seizures, a bulging fontanel, stiff neck, opisthotonos, and hemiparesis can be observed.
Diagnosis is typically confirmed through CSF analysis exhibiting elevated polymorphonuclear neutrophils, low glucose levels, and high protein content. Essential diagnostic tools include tests like routine culture, antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay, and molecular methods such as PCR and RT-PCR. Although the treatment with β-lactam antibiotics like intravenous penicillin or ampicillin plus gentamicin is standard, the mortality rate in infected neonates remains around 10%.