

Health Library
October 10, 2025
Question on this topic? Get an instant answer from August.
I-Meningitis iwukuvuvukala kwamaphepha avikelayo abekwe ngaphesheya komkhondo wakho nohlaza. Lezi ziciko ezincinyane, ebizwa ngokuthi yi-meninges, zisebenza njengomhlathi ovimbela izitho zakho ezibaluleke kakhulu.
Uma la maphepha evuvuka ngenxa yokutheleleka noma ezinye izimbangela, angacindezela ubuchopho bakho nohlaza. Lo mcindzeleliso udala izimpawu ezinkulu ezihambisana ne-meningitis futhi udinga ukunakekelwa kwangaphambi kwesikhathi.
Isimo singaqala ngokuzuma noma kancane kancane, kuye ngokuthi yini eyibangelayo. Nakuba igama elithi "i-meningitis" lingase lizwakale liyesabekayo, ukuqonda ukuthi yini nokuqaphela izimpawu kungakusiza ukuthi uthole ukunakekelwa okufanele ngokushesha.
Izimpawu ze-meningitis zivame ukuqala ngokuzuma futhi zingazizwa njengesiqale sokuqala. Izimpawu ezivamile zivele njengoba ukuvuvukala ngaphesheya komkhondo wakho nohlaza kukhula.
Izimpawu ezivamile ongazihlangabezana nazo zihlanganisa:
Abanye abantu baphuthuma isikhumba esiyimpawu esingapheli uma ucindezela iglasi ngaphezulu kwaso. Lesi sikhumba sivela njengezindawo ezincane, ezimnyama noma izibazi futhi singasakazeka ngokushesha emzimbeni wakho.
Ezimweni ezingavamile, ungase uhlangabezane nokuhlupheka, izinkinga zokuzwa, noma ukuhluleka ukukhuluma. Lezi zimpawu zibonisa ukuthi ukutheleleka kuchaphazela imisebenzi ejulile yengqondo futhi kudinga ukwelashwa okusheshayo.
Izingane ezincane kanye nabantwana abancane bangabonisa izimpawu ezahlukene, okuhlanganisa ukucasuka, ukudla okungabi kuhle, indawo ebomvu ephumile ekhanda labo, noma ukulala okungavamile. Lezi zimpawu zingaba nzima ukuqaphela kepha zibucayi ngokufanayo.
I-Meningitis iza ngezinhlobo eziningi ezahlukene, ngayinye inezimbangela zayo kanye nesilinganiso sokuphuthumayo. Ukuqonda le miqondo kuzokusiza wazi ukuthi yini okufanele uyilindele.
I-meningitis yebhaktheriya iyifomu elibucayi kakhulu futhi idinga ukwelashwa okusheshayo okuphuthumayo. Amabhaktheriya avamile abangela lokhu kuhlanganisa i-Streptococcus pneumoniae, i-Neisseria meningitidis, ne-Haemophilus influenzae. Lolu hlobo lungaba yingozi ekuphileni emahoreni ambalwa.
I-meningitis yebhayirusi ivame kakhulu futhi ngokuvamile ayiyingozi njenge-meningitis yebhaktheriya. Amavithali afana nama-enteroviruses, i-herpes simplex, ne-influenza angaqala lolu hlobo. Abantu abaningi bayaphila ngokuphelele ngokunakekelwa okusekayo.
I-meningitis yefungal ayivamile futhi ngokuvamile ithinta abantu abanezimpande zomzimba ezibuthakathaka. Ithuthuka kancane ezinyangeni futhi idinga ukwelashwa okuqondene ne-antifungal.
I-meningitis engathinti lutho ingabangelwa imithi ethile, umdlavuza, noma izimo ze-autoimmune. Lolu hlobo aludluli komuntu komunye futhi ngokuvamile luthuthuka uma imbangela ephambili ilashwe.
I-Meningitis ithuthuka lapho ama-germs noma ezinye izinto eziqinisayo zifinyelela emaphepheni avikelayo ezingqondweni yakho nasemgogweni wakho. Laba bahlaseli bangafika ngezindlela eziningi ezahlukene emzimbeni wakho.
Ukutheleleka kwezibhaktheriya ngokuvamile kuqala kwenye indawo emzimbeni wakho bese kuhamba nge-bloodstream yakho ukuya ezingqondweni zakho. Ngezinye izikhathi amabhaktheriya angena ngqo ngokweqa kwesikhumba, ukutheleleka kwelindle, noma ukutheleleka kwe-sinus okuya kude.
Ukutheleleka kwevithali kungaqala i-meningitis njengobunzima bezifo ezivamile. Amavithali abangela izikhathi ezibandayo, isifo sikagciwane, noma izinambuzane zesisu ngezinye izikhathi ahambela ohlelweni lwakho oluphakathi lwemisipha futhi abangele ukuvuvukala lapho.
Ama-spore ezibungu owaqhekeza emoyeni angabangela ukugula kwe-meningitis ngezinye izikhathi, ikakhulu uma izinga lokulwa nezifo lomzimba wakho liphansi. Lokhu kwenzeka kakhulu ngama-fungi atholakala ethonjeni noma emathunjini ezinyoni.
Izimbangela ezingabangelwa ukutheleleka zihlanganisa imithi ethile ebangela ukwanda kokuvuvukala, amakha e-cancer asakazeka ku-meninges, noma izimo ze-autoimmune lapho umzimba wakho uhlasela izicubu zakho ngephutha.
Kufanele ufunse ukunakekelwa okusheshayo kwezimo eziphuthumayo uma uthola izimpawu ezingabonisa i-meningitis. Lesi simo singathuthuka ngokushesha, ikakhulu i-meningitis yebhaktheriya, ngakho-ke ukusebenza ngokushesha kubalulekile.
Shaya u-911 noma uye endlini yokwelapha ngokushesha uma uhlushwa yikhanda elibuhlungu kakhulu ne-fever nokuqina kwentamo. Lezi zimpawu ezintathu ndawonye ziyisixwayiso esinamandla esidinga ukuhlolwa ngokushesha kwezokwelapha.
Ungalindi uma ubona isikhumba esingapheli uma sicindezelwa ngeglasi, ikakhulu uma sibonakala kanye nezinye izimpawu. Lolu hlobo oluthile lwesikhumba lungabonisa ukutheleleka okubi kwebhaktheriya okudinga ukwelashwa okusheshayo.
Funani ukunakekelwa okusheshayo uma wena noma omunye umuntu ebonisa izimpawu zokudideka, ukulala okukhulu, noma ukuhlupheka ukuhlala uphapheme. Lezi zimpawu zibonisa ukuthi ubuchopho buthintekile futhi kudingeka ukunakekelwa kwezokwelapha ngokushesha.
Kubantwana abasebancane nabantwana, xhumana nodokotela wabo ngokushesha uma bethola ukukhathazeka okungavamile, ukudla okubi, i-fever, noma noma yikuphi ukushintsha endaweni yabo ebushelelezi. Abantwana bangagula kakhulu ngokushesha nge-meningitis.
Izinto ezithile zingandisa amathuba akho okuthola i-meningitis, yize kubalulekile ukwazi ukuthi noma ubani angathola lesi simo. Ukuqonda lezi zinto ezingaholela kulokhu kungakusiza ukuthi uthathe izinyathelo ezifanele.
Ubudala buwumthombo omkhulu wokuthi ube sengozini. Izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka emi-2 ziba sengozini kakhulu ngoba amasosha omzimba azo asathuthuka. Iintsha nabantu abadala abasebancane nabo baba sengozini kakhulu, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni lapho abantu behlangana khona njengezikole eziphakeme.
Indlela ohlala ngayo ingathinta indlela ohlangana ngayo nezifo ezibangela i-meningitis:
Izimo zezempilo eziqeda amasosha omzimba yakho zikwenza ube sengozini kakhulu. Lokhu kufaka phakathi i-HIV/AIDS, isifo sikashukela, isifo somlomo, noma ukusebenzisa imithi ecindezela amasosha omzimba akho.
Ukweqa imithi yokugcoba okuyisibopho kukwenza ube sengozini kakhulu. Imithi yokugcoba ivikela ezinye zebhaktheriya nezinambuzane ezivame ukubangela i-meningitis.
Ukulimala ekhanda, ukutheleleka kwezindlebe, noma ukutheleleka kwe-sinus kungakha izindlela zezifo zokufinyelela ebuchosheni bakho. Ukukhipha i-spleen yakho nakho kwenza ube sengozini kakhulu ngoba leli lungu lomzimba likusiza ukulwa nezifo ezithile zebhaktheriya.
Nakuba abantu abaningi baphila kahle ngemuva kwe-meningitis, abanye bangase babe nemiphumela ehlala njalo, ikakhulukazi uma ukwelashwa kulibaziseka. Ukuqonda lezi zinto kungenza kubaluleke kakhulu ukufuna ukunakekelwa kwezokwelapha ngokushesha.
Izinhlanganisela ezivame kakhulu zithinta uhlelo lwakho lwezinzwa futhi zingafaka:
Abanye abantu bathuthukisa ubuthakathaka bokufunda noma ukushintsha kokuziphatha, ikakhulukazi izingane ezazi-ne-meningitis ezineminyaka emincane. Lezi zimpikiswano zingase zingabonakali kuze kube ngeminyaka noma izinyanga kamuva.
Ezimweni ezinzima, i-meningitis ingabangela ukonakala kobuchopho, isifo sokuqhaqhazela, noma ukukhula okuphazamisa ukusebenza kobuchopho unomphela. Ukutheleleka kungase futhi kusakazeke kwamanye amalungu omzimba wakho.
Izinkinga ezingavamile kodwa ezingathi sína zihlanganisa ukwehluleka kwesibindi, ukuzamazama, noma izinkinga zokugqwala kwegazi. Lezi ngokuvamile zenzeka nge-meningitis yebhaktheriya esakazeka ngokushesha.
Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi ukwelashwa okusheshayo kunciphisa kakhulu ingozi yezinkinga. Abantu abaningi abamukela ukunakekelwa okufanele ekuqaleni kwesifo sabo bayaphila kabusha ngaphandle kwemiphumela ehlala njalo.
Ungathatha izinyathelo eziningi ezisebenzayo zokuzivimbela wena nomndeni wakho kwi-meningitis. Ukugonywa yilona isixhobo sakho esinamandla kakhulu sokulwa nezinhlobo ezivamile nezingozi kakhulu zalesi simo.
Ukuthola imithi yokugonywa okuyisibonelo kubaluleke kakhulu ekunqobeni. Le miyekezo yokugonywa ivikela amabhaktheriya nezinambuzane ezibangela izimo eziningi ze-meningitis.
Imithi yokugonywa ebalulekile ihlanganisa:
Imikhuba emihle yokuhlanzeka inganciphisa ukukhishwa kwakho ezintweni ezingcolile ezibangela i-meningitis. Geza izandla zakho njalo, ikakhulukazi ngaphambi kokudla nangemva kokusebenzisa igumbi lokugezela noma ukuba ezindaweni zomphakathi.
Gwema ukwabelana ngezinto zakho siqu njengezikomishi zokuphapha, izinto zokudla, i-lip balm, noma amabhrashi amazinyo. Lezi zinto zingadlulisela umalume namabhaktheriya akuwo komunye umuntu.
Hlala uphilile ngokujabulela ukulala okwanele, ukudla ukudla okunomsoco, nokwenza umsebenzi ngokujwayelekile. Isistimu yokukhululeka eqinile iyasiza umzimba wakho ukulwa nokutheleleka ngaphambi kokuba kube yizinkinga ezinkulu.
Uma uhamba ezindaweni lapho isifo sofuzo siqheleke kakhulu khona, xoxa nodokotela wakho ngezinye izigqoko noma izinyathelo zokuphepha ongazenza.
Ukuxilongwa kwesifo sofuzo kudinga ukuhlolwa okuningi kwezokwelapha ngoba izimpawu zingafana nezinye izimo ezingathi sína. Udokotela wakho uzozama ngokushesha ukubona ukuthi une-meningitis yini nokuthi iyiluphi uhlobo.
Inkqubo yokuxilonga iqala ngokuhlolwa komzimba lapho udokotela wakho ahlola khona ukunqabela kwentamo, ukukhishwa kwesikhumba, kanye nezimpawu zokucasuka kwengqondo. Bazokuphinde bakubuze ngezimpawu zakho nezifo zakamuva.
Ukuqhaqhazela kwesamba, okuthiwa futhi yi-spinal tap, kuyivivinyo elibaluleke kakhulu lokuthola isifo sofuzo. Phakathi nalesi senzakalo, udokotela wakho ufake unhlangothi oluthambile emuva kwakho ukuze aqoqe isampula encane yephunga lomhlane.
Lesi sampula le-spinal fluid lihlolwa elabhoratri ukuze lifune izimpawu zokutheleleka. Ilabhorethri ingakwazi ukubona amabhaktheriya, ama-virus, noma ezinye izimbangela zokuvuvukala futhi ibone ukuthi yiziphi izindlela zokwelapha ezizosebenza kangcono.
Izivivinyo zegazi zisiza ukusekela ukuxilongwa ngokuhlola izimpawu zokutheleleka kulo lonke umzimba wakho. Lezi zivivinyo zingakwazi futhi ukubona ama-germs athile abangela isifo sakho.
Ngezinye izikhathi udokotela wakho angase ayalele i-CT scan noma i-MRI yekhanda lakho ukuze akhiphe ezinye izimbangela zezimpawu zakho njengezifo zengqondo noma ukuphuza igazi. Lezi zivivinyo zokufanekisa zingabonisa futhi ukuthi kukhona ukukhuluka yini engqondweni yakho.
Ukwelashwa kwesifo sofuzo kuncike kulokho okubangela ukuvuvukala, kodwa ukushesha kuhlale kubalulekile. Iqembu lakho lezokwelapha lizovame ukuqala ukwelashwa ngaphambi kokuba zonke izinzuzo ziyatholakala ukuvimbela izinkinga.
Ukutheleleka kwe-meningitis ebangelwa yibhaktheriya kudinga ukwelashwa ngokushesha ngama-antibiotics anamandla anikezwa nge-IV. Udokotela wakho uzokhetha ama-antibiotics athile kuye ngokuthi yiziphi izinambuzane ezingase zibangele ukutheleleka kwakho, bese ulungisa ukwelashwa uma iziphumo zelebhu zitholakala.
Uzophinde uthole ama-corticosteroids ukuze unciphise ukukhula nokuvuvukala kwengqondo. Le miyekezo iyasiza ekuvimbeni ezinye zezinkinga ezingase zenzeke nge-meningitis yebhaktheriya, ikakhulukazi ukulahlekelwa ukuzwa.
I-meningitis yebhayirasisi ngokuvamile ayidingi imithi ethile ye-antiviral ngoba isimo sakho sokuvikela umzimba singalwa ngokuvamile nokutheleleka. Ukwelashwa kugxile ekulawuleni izimpawu zakho nokukugcina ukhululekile ngenkathi uphulukana.
Ukukhathalela okusekela kubalulekile kuzo zonke izinhlobo ze-meningitis futhi kufaka phakathi:
I-meningitis yefungal idinga ukwelashwa isikhathi eside ngemithi ye-antifungal. Lokhu kwelashwa kuvame ukuqhubeka amasonto noma izinyanga, kuye ngokuthi uyaphendula kanjani nohlobo lwe-fungus oluhilelekile.
Abantu abaningi abane-meningitis yebhaktheriya noma yebhayirasisi bahlala esibhedlela izinsuku eziningi ukuze balandelele ukuphulukana kwabo futhi babuke izinkinga. Iqembu lakho lezokwelapha lizolula izimpawu zakho eduze futhi lilungise ukwelashwa ngokudingeka.
Ukuphulukana ne-meningitis kuthatha isikhathi, futhi kuzodingeka ubekezelele ngomzimba wakho njengoba uya uphulukana. Iningi lokuphulukana kwakho lizokwenzeka ekhaya ngemuva kokwelashwa kwakho kwasezibhedlela.
Ukuphumula kubaluleke kakhulu ngesikhathi sakho sokuphulukana. Ingqondo yakho nomzimba wakho bedlule ekuhluphekeni okukhulu, ngakho-ke hlela ukulala ngaphezu kokujwayelekile futhi ugweme imisebenzi enzima amasonto ambalwa.
Hlala unamanzi amaningi ngokupha amanzi amaningi usuku lonke. Ukuphelelwa amanzi emzimbeni kungenza izinhloso zikhanda zibe zimbi futhi kunciphisa inqubo yakho yokuphulukana.
Thatha imithi yakho ngokuqondile njengoba ilotshiwe, ngisho noma uqala ukuzizwa kangcono. Uma usebenzisa ama-antibiotics, qeda lonke uhlelo ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ukutheleleka kuqediwe ngokuphelele.
Lawula izimpawu ezisalindele ngezindlela ezimnene:
Qaphela izimpawu zezixwayiso ezingase zibonise ubunzima noma isidingo sokukhathalelwa kwezokwelapha okwengeziwe. Xhumana nodokotela wakho uma uthola izimpawu ezintsha, izinhlungu zekhanda ezibi kakhulu, noma izimpawu zokutheleleka.
Qaphela ukuthi ukuphulukisa kungathatha amasonto noma izinyanga, futhi abanye abantu bahlushwa ukukhathala, izinkinga zokuhlushwa, noma izinhlungu zekhanda ezincane isikhathi eside. Lokhu kuyinto evamile, kodwa gcina iqembu lakho lokukhathalela impilo lixwayiswe ngokuthuthuka kwakho.
Uma ucindezela ukuthi une-meningitis, ungalindi isikhathi sokucwasa. Lesi simo sidinga ukunakekelwa okusheshayo kwezimo eziphuthumayo, ngakho-ke hamba ngqo ekamelweni lemiphumela noma shayela u-911.
Kodwa-ke, uma ulandela ngemuva kokwelashwa noma unezinkathazo mayelana nokukhombisa okungenzeka, ukulungiselela ukubonisana kwakho kungakusiza ukuthola okuningi ekuhambeleni kwakho.
Bhala zonke izimpawu zakho, kufaka phakathi ukuthi zaqala nini nokuthi zishintshe kanjani. Faka imininingwane mayelana nezindlela zokushisa, ubukhulu benhlungu yekhanda, nanoma iyiphi i-rash oyibonile.
Letha uhlu lwemithi yonke oyithatha njengamanje, kufaka phakathi imithi engatholakala ngaphandle kokubhalwa yi dokotela kanye nezinye izithasiselo. Phawula futhi noma yiziphi izifo zakamuva, ukulimala, noma uhambo.
Lungiselela lezi zindaba ezibalulekile ukuze wabelane ngazo:
Cabanga ukuthi ulethe ilungu lomndeni noma umngani ozokusiza ukuba ukhumbule ulwazi bese ubuza imibuzo. I-Meningitis ingathinta ukugxila kwakho, okwenza kube nzima ukucubungula ulwazi lwezokwelapha.
Ungangabazi ukubuza noma yini ongayiqondi. Iqembu lakho lokunakekelwa kwezempilo lifuna ukuqinisekisa ukuthi unelonke ulwazi olukuqondene nokuphulukana okuhle.
I-Meningitis yisimo esinzima kodwa esingaphatheka esidinga ukunakekelwa kwezokwelapha ngokushesha. Ukuze uthole imiphumela emihle, kubalulekile ukuqaphela izimpawu zokuqala bese uthola ukunakekelwa kwezokwelapha ngokushesha.
Khumbula ukuthi izimpawu ze-meningitis zivame ukuqala njengesiqhingi kodwa zibe nzima ngokushesha. Ukuhlanganiswa kokukhathazeka kakhulu, ukushisa, nokuqina kwentamo kufanele kuhlale kukhuthaza uhambo oluya endlini yokwelapha ngokushesha.
Ukuvimbela ngokugonywa yilona gcino oluhle kakhulu lokuvikela izinhlobo eziyingozi kakhulu ze-meningitis. Qiniseka ukuthi wena nomndeni wakho nihlala nibuyekezwa ngama-vaccine achazwe.
Ngokutholakala kwesifo ngokushesha nokwelashwa okufanele, abantu abaningi baphulukana ngokuphelele ne-meningitis. Ngisho noma kwenzeka izinkinga, eziningi zingaphathwa kahle ngokunakekelwa kwezokwelapha okufanele nokubuyiselwa.
Themba izinzwa zakho uma kukhona okubonakala kubi kakhulu. I-Meningitis ayisiyo isimo okufanele ulinde bese ubona. Uma ungaqiniseki, funa ukuhlolwa kwezokwelapha ngokushesha.
Ezinye izinhlobo ze-meningitis zingadluliselwa komunye umuntu, kodwa akuzona zonke izinhlobo ezithathelwanayo. I-meningitis yebhaktheriya ne-viral ngezinye izikhathi ingadluliselwa ngamatilana omphefumulo lapho umuntu ekhwehlela noma ethikiza, noma ngokuthintana okuqonde njengokuqabulana. Kodwa-ke, i-meningitis ye-fungal ne-meningitis engathinteki ayidluliselwa kubantu. Ngisho nangezinye izinhlobo ezithathelwanayo, ukuthintana okuvamile njengokuba sekhoneni elifanayo ngokuvamile akwanele ukudlulisela ukutheleleka.
Isikhathi sokuphulukana sihluka kuye ngohlobo lwe-meningitis nokuthi ukwelashwa kuqala nini. I-meningitis ye-viral ngokuvamile iphela phakathi kwezinsuku eziyi-7-10, yize ungase uzizwe ukhathele amasonto ambalwa. Ukuphulukana ne-meningitis yebhaktheriya ngokuvamile kuthatha amasonto angu-2-4, kodwa abanye abantu badinga izinyanga ukuze baphile kabusha ngokuphelele. Abanye abantu bahlangabezana nemiphumela ehlala isikhathi eside njengokukhathala noma izinkinga zokuhlushwa okungase kuqhubeke izinyanga. Udokotela wakho uzolandelela intuthuko yakho futhi akusize uqonde ukuthi yini okufanele uyilindele esimweni sakho esithile.
Yebo, kungenzeka ukuthola i-meningitis izikhathi eziningi, yize kungavamile. Ukuba nohlobo olulodwa lwe-meningitis akukuvimbeli ekutholeni ukutheleleka ngebhaktheriya noma i-virus ehlukile ebangela i-meningitis. Abanye abantu abanezinye izimo zesimiso somzimba babhekene nobungozi obukhulu bokulimala okuphindaphindayo. Lesi yisizathu esisodwa sokuthi ukugcina ugcwele izigqoko kubalulekile ngisho nangemva kokutholakala yi-meningitis.
Abantu abaningi bayaphola ngokuphelele kusuka kubulwelwe be-meningitis ngaphandle kwemiphumela ehlala njalo, ikakhulukazi uma ukwelashwa kuqala ngokushesha. Noma kunjalo, abanye abantu bangase babe nezinhlungu zesikhathi eside ezinjengokuphulukana nokuzwa, izinkinga zokukhumbula, ubunzima bokuqondisa, noma ukukhubazeka kokufunda. Ingozi yezinhlungu iphakeme kakhulu nge-meningitis yebhaktheriya futhi uma ukwelashwa kulibaziseka. Ukunakekelwa okuqhubekayo kokulandelela kungasiza ekutholeni nasekuphatheni noma yimiphi imiphumela ehlala njalo evela.
Xhumana nodokotela wakho ngokushesha uma ube nokuthintana okuqinile nomuntu ohlinzwe nge-meningitis yebhaktheriya. Kuye ngohlobo lwebhaktheriya kanye nokuvezwa kwakho, udokotela wakho angase anikeze ama-antibiotic okuvimbela. Ukuthintana okuqinile kuvame ukubandakanya amalungu omndeni, abangane abahlala ndawonye, noma noma ubani ohlanganyele izitsha zokudla noma owayenokuthintana okuthile. Uhlaka lwezempilo lendawo yakini lungase futhi luxhumane nawe uma luphenya ukubhebhetheka. Ungesabi, kodwa funa iseluleko sokuthi udokotela ngokushesha.
6Mpeople
Get clear medical guidance
on symptoms, medications, and lab reports.