How to make a glass test

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Content

Steps
Part 1 of 3: Glass Test
Part 2 of 3: Other Signs and Symptoms
Part 3 of 3: Medical Assistance
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Meningitis causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The microorganisms that cause meningitis can also lead to septicemia (blood poisoning), although this can occur in the absence of meningitis. Both diseases are life threatening and require immediate medical attention. Although treatment should not be delayed until a skin rash appears, the presence of such a rash is often indicative of meningitis and / or septicemia, and a clear glass or sturdy plastic beaker test can be done to verify this.By being able to do this test and knowing the other symptoms of meningitis and septicemia, you can save the life of yourself or a loved one.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Glass Test

1 Learn what a meningitis rash looks like. A rash caused by meningococcal septicemia appears as a scattering of small pink dots that look like a pinprick. These points gradually merge into purple-red spots and / or hematomas.
- Unlike most rashes, meningococcal septicemia rash does not go away or fade when pressed. The glass test uses this specific feature to identify such a rash.
2 Choose a clear glass. For this test, you can use an ordinary clear glass or plastic cup with sufficiently thick walls. The plastic cup must be strong enough to withstand the pressure without flattening or cracking.
- The sides of the glass should be transparent. Glass (plastic) that is too thick or translucent makes it harder to see the rash.
- It is best to use a glass or cup. However, if necessary, you can also take a clear glass or plastic plate.
3 Choose a suitable area of your skin. Before doing the test, you should select a fairly pale area of the skin, covered with specks of rash.
- A meningitis rash is more difficult to see on darker skin. Look for rash spots on lighter areas of skin, such as the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet.
4 Press the glass over the rash. Gently press the side of the glass against the rash-covered skin. This requires you to see the rash through the glass. Experiment by holding the glass in place or rolling it over your skin so that the spots of the rash are as visible as possible.
- Press hard enough to turn the skin around the rash pale. When pressure is applied, blood leaves tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface. If the skin around the rash does not turn pale, then you were not able to apply enough pressure to correctly evaluate the test results.
- At first, the rash may appear to have turned pale and discolored as well. However, this impression can be deceiving, as the skin around the rash turns pale under pressure. You should not end the test on these results.
- If you think the rash is fading, continue to press down on the glass and try moving it to a different area of skin covered by the rash to make sure the rash really does fade under the pressure.
5 Watch for discoloration of the spots. As you roll the glass over the rash, watch to see if not only the skin is discolored, but the rash itself. Pay close attention to whether the rash actually goes away and check the result several times.
- If the rash disappears, it is most likely not caused by meningitis or septicemia.
- If the rash does not fade, then this is a dangerous sign of meningococcal septicemia.
6 See your doctor immediately if the test is positive. A rash that does not disappear with pressure can be caused by meningococcal septicemia, which is very dangerous. You will need immediate medical attention as the disease can be fatal. Call a doctor or emergency room immediately.
- If the rash disappears but other signs of meningitis or other serious health problems are present, you should still seek immediate medical attention. The rash itself does not serve as a clear and unequivocal sign of meningitis; with this disease, it may fade or be absent altogether.
- If you suspect meningitis, you should not wait for the rash to appear before seeking medical attention. If you suspect you have meningitis, call an ambulance immediately to get to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

Part 2 of 3: Other Signs and Symptoms

1 Be aware of the symptoms of meningitis in adults and children. They are often similar to flu symptoms, but meningitis is much more dangerous. Symptoms can appear very quickly, within a few hours, or after a day or two. The most common symptoms in both children and adults include the following:
- A sharp rise in body temperature
- Acute headache different from a common migraine
- Neck stiffness and difficulty turning the head
- Nausea and / or vomiting
- Confusion of thoughts, difficulty concentrating and concentrating
- Increased fatigue, drowsiness
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Decreased appetite and constant feeling of thirst
- In some (not all) cases, a skin rash
- Seizures and loss of consciousness
2 Be aware of symptoms in newborns. Newborns and infants may not be able to communicate to others where they feel pain or numbness and may not show some other signs, such as nausea or confusion. The following symptoms should be considered when diagnosing meningitis in newborns and infants:
- High body temperature
- Incessant crying, inability to calm the child
- Excessive fatigue, lethargy, increased irritability
- Poor nutrition and lack of appetite
- Stiffness of the body, accompanied by convulsions, or sluggish flexibility and "lifelessness"
- A lump and / or mild swelling on the crown of the head
3 Check for cold hands and feet. An abnormally low temperature of the extremities is one of the signs of meningitis, especially if it is observed against the background of a high temperature in the rest of the body.
- Shivering is another symptom. If the patient, being in a warm place, experiences uncontrolled tremors, this may indicate the development of septicemia.
4 Pay attention to unusual pain and stiffness (numbness). Typically, meningitis stiffness occurs primarily in the neck, but the patient may experience unusual pain and stiffness in other areas of the body as well, which is another symptom of the condition.
- Pain often occurs in joints and / or muscles.
5 Watch for possible digestive upsets. Meningitis is often accompanied by stomach cramps and diarrhea. If these symptoms are present along with others, they may be indicative of meningitis.
- Many people with meningitis also experience loss of appetite, nausea, and repeated vomiting.
6 Be aware of the meningitis rash. The rash is one of the late symptoms of the disease, and it may not occur at all. Therefore, you need to be aware of other signs and symptoms of meningitis.
- Be aware that there is no rash with viral meningitis. If a rash appears, it is indicative of bacterial meningitis.
- As the bacteria that cause meningitis multiply in the bloodstream, the endotoxins they produce enter the bloodstream. The human body is usually unable to resist these toxins, and poisoning with them leads to damage to the blood vessels. This process is called septicemia.
- As septicemia develops, it can damage various organs. A characteristic rash occurs when poisoned blood seeps into the subcutaneous tissue.

Part 3 of 3: Medical Assistance

1 Get immediate medical attention. Meningitis is a very serious condition. Symptoms can appear within a couple of hours or a few days, but if you suspect your symptoms are indicative of meningitis, go to your nearest health center or hospital immediately.
- The success of treatment often depends on how timely it is started, so if you suspect meningitis, do not hesitate and seek medical help immediately.
- Because many of the symptoms of meningitis can be associated with common but less serious medical conditions, you may not recognize the disease in its early stages. However, when these symptoms worsen or new symptoms appear that are characteristic of meningitis (neck stiffness, rash that does not pale with pressure), seek medical attention as soon as possible.
2 Get tested for meningitis. Only a doctor can tell you have meningitis. Most likely, a doctor or emergency room will take a sample of your blood or cerebrospinal fluid to test for meningitis.
- To take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid, the doctor will use a syringe with a lumbar puncture needle. With this, he or she will extract some fluid from the spinal canal, which is then checked for the presence of meningitis pathogens.
- CBCs and blood cultures, urinalysis, and chest x-ray can also help detect signs of infection.
- If a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is confirmed, your blood or cerebrospinal fluid may be used to culture the bacteria in a laboratory to compare it with existing strains. The specific strain will depend on your treatment and the type of antibiotic you use.
- Depending on the circumstances, your doctor may also refer you for a CT scan or MRI to check how much the brain tissue is swollen and to check for other damage.
3 Prepare for hospitalization. When diagnosed with a bacterial or acute form of viral meningitis, patients are almost always hospitalized. However, the need for hospitalization and its duration is determined mainly by the type of meningitis and the severity of the symptoms.
- At the hospital, patients are given antibiotics, antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, and antipyretics. Patients with breathing difficulties can also receive oxygen therapy. Supportive therapy, such as intravenous injections, is given as needed.
4 Avoid getting meningitis. In most cases, meningitis is contracted through contact with carriers. The disease can be transmitted by airborne droplets (for example, by coughing or sneezing) or by contact (with kissing, shared utensils, and so on). You can prevent meningitis from spreading and getting it by following standard precautions:
- Wash your hands more thoroughly and often
- Do not eat from shared utensils or share cutlery, drinking straws, food, drinks, lip ointment, cigarette, or toothbrush with anyone
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze