Meningitis Photophobia: Everything to Know About
Meningitis is a brain condition in which the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord get inflamed or swollen.
Photophobia is an increased sensitivity or aversion to light. Your eyes feel discomfort when looking at bright lights.
Meningitis and photophobia are mainly connected.
Sensitivity or dislike of bright lights is an early sign of Meningitis.
A study by Gil Amarilyo, Arik Alper, and others showed that 88% of children with Meningitis also had photophobia.
Infection usually causes Meningitis. It can be bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and amebic.
The prime symptom of photophobia may be prevalent in all types except amebic infection.
Read on to learn more about Meningitis photophobia.
Meningitis Photophobia: a prime symptom
Photophobia is a common symptom of Meningitis, regardless of its type.
The symptoms of Meningitis are somewhat similar to the flu, but it may lead to long-term disabilities for about 20% of the patients.
Photophobia is one of the symptoms that may be prevalent for several years or, sometimes, even for a lifetime.
A specific viral strain, enteroviral-positive (which accounts for 80% to 92% of all viral Meningitis), was considered one of the most likely subtypes to cause photophobia.
How to know you have photophobia?
If you have Meningitis and doubt that you also have photophobia, you can notice the symptoms below.
- Eyestrain
- A feeling of dry eyes
- Inability to completely open your eyes
- Pain or discomfort when looking at light
- Sensitivity to fluorescent lights
- Regular bright lights feel too much
- Squinting one or both eyes
- Intolerance to sunlight
- A burning sensation
- Involuntary or excessive blinking
- Excessive tear production
Causes of photophobia in Meningitis
Meningitis is a brain condition that can hamper the neurological processes of a person.
Thus, it can also result in photophobia. The reason is that photophobia is a common symptom seen in many neurologic disorders.
Also, an intense headache, a symptom of Meningitis, may often resemble a migraine or other headache disorders.
Headaches or migraines may cause or worsen light sensitivity in a person.
A study was done on aseptic Meningitis in which 39 out of the 41 patients had severe or bilateral headaches. Among them, 18 people had the symptom of photophobia.
Moreover, the optic nerve is critical for your vision.
Due to the inflammation, it can swell after Meningitis. It is known as Optic Neuritis.
Optic neuritis can increase the sensitivity to light.
Any hamper to the optic nerve after Meningitis can cause eyesight problems.
The development of photophobic discomfort highly depends on how the eye perceives light.
It has been demonstrated that rods and cones in the retina reach specific brain regions that control pain, which are essential for vision.
Consequently, these ocular systems’ malfunction or over-reactivity can cause photophobia.
Post-Meningitis photophobia
Photophobia can also occur after Meningitis. The reason can be the onset of chronic headache disorders post-Meningitis.
It can last from several months to years.
A study conducted on post-Meningitis headaches showed that 46% of people had headaches after Meningitis.
Patients who developed post-Meningitis headaches were significantly younger than those who did not.
When to see a doctor?
If you have the symptoms of photophobia mentioned above, along with the below-mentioned symptoms, then you should consult with a doctor immediately.
- Fever and chills
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Nausea and vomiting
Treatment
The treatment of Meningitis photophobia depends upon the cause. Whatever type of infection is the reason behind your Meningitis, the treatment is based on it.
- Fungal Meningitis: antifungal medications, mostly injected in the veins.
- Parasitic Meningitis: no specific treatment or usage of medications to reduce the body’s reaction to the parasite.
- Viral Meningitis: mostly, no treatment is needed, or sometimes antiviral medications may help.
- Bacterial Meningitis: timely antibacterial treatment.
Takeaway
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes is known as Meningitis. An infection primarily causes it.
One of the first alarming symptoms of Meningitis is photophobia.
In Meningitis photophobia, a person can feel difficulties looking at bright lights.
Treatment is needed for photophobia and other symptoms like fever, nausea, chills, etc.
The treatment depends upon the type of infection that has caused Meningitis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is photophobia a symptom of Meningitis?
Yes, photophobia is a common symptom of Meningitis. You may have an aversion to lights in viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal Meningitis. This symptom may be detected when Meningitis is in the early stage.
Is there light sensitivity with Meningitis?
If you have Meningitis, and especially bacterial meningitis, there is a high chance that you may have light sensitivity. Regular brightness may also cause eyestrain or pain. Moreover, going outdoors in bright sunlight may also be challenging.
What are the signs of Meningitis?
Photophobia is one of the early signs of Meningitis that you can notice in the eye. You may also have several other vision problems, like blurred vision, loss of visual acuity, diplopia, retrobulbar pain, etc.
Which bacterial Meningitis causes photophobia?
Meningococcal Meningitis is an acute bacterial illness typically caused by Neisseria meningitides. It usually develops with the progressive symptoms of Meningitis, such as photophobia.
Is photophobia a neurological problem?
Photophobia is a common symptom seen in varied neurological conditions like Meningitis. It can cause severe and irreversible neurological damage if proper treatment is not given on time.
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