Meningitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the fluid and membranes (meninges) that surround your brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis swelling often causes signs and symptoms such as headache, fever, and stiff neck.
The majority of instances of meningitis in the United States are caused by a viral infection, although additional causes include bacterial, parasitic, and fungal diseases. Some cases of meningitis improve in a few weeks without treatment. Others are potentially fatal and necessitate immediate antibiotic therapy.
If you suspect someone has meningitis, get emergency medical attention. Bacterial meningitis can be treated early to avoid serious effects.
MENINGITIS TYPES
1. Bacterial meningitis
It's a very terrible illness. You or your child will require immediate medical attention. It can be life-threatening or cause brain damage if not treated promptly.
Bacterial meningitis can be caused by a variety of microorganisms. The most common in the United States are:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus)
- Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus)
- Listeria monocytogenes (in older people, pregnant women, or those with immune system problems)
Until the Hib vaccine became available for infants, a bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was a major cause of meningitis in babies and young children. Vaccines for Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are also available. Experts urge that all children, as well as adults who are at a higher risk for the disease, obtain them.
Bacterial meningitis often begins when bacteria enter your bloodstream through your sinuses, ears, or throat. Bacteria enter your bloodstream and go to your brain.
The bacteria that cause meningitis can spread when sick people cough or sneeze. Ask your doctor what precautions you should take if you or your kid has been exposed to someone who has bacterial meningitis.
2. Fungal meningitis
Fungal meningitis is far less prevalent than bacterial or viral meningitis. It is rarely obtained by healthy people. If you have an immune system disease, such as AIDS, you are more likely to have this type of meningitis.
3. Viral meningitis
Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and is usually – but not always – less dangerous. A variety of viruses, including those that cause diarrhea, can cause the condition.
4. Parasitic meningitis
Parasitic meningitis is also uncommon. It is caused by parasites that are normally found in animals. You can get it via eating parasite-infected animals or eggs, such as snails, slugs, snakes, fish, or chicken, or from eating vegetables that contains parasite eggs. Raw or undercooked meals pose a greater risk. This type of meningitis cannot be passed on to others.
5. Chronic meningitis
Chronic meningitis involves symptoms similar to acute meningitis, however typically develops over a few weeks. It is caused by tuberculosis-causing fungi or mycobacteria infections. Meningitis is caused by these organisms getting into the tissue and fluid surrounding your brain.
6. Non-infectious meningitis
Non-infectious meningitis is caused by diseases such as lupus or cancer, as well as a head injury, brain surgery, or the use of certain drugs. It is not spreadable.
7. Amoebic meningitis
Amoebic meningitis is caused by a single-celled insect called Naegleria fowleri and is frequently fatal. This amoeba can only live in soil or warm, fresh water; it cannot exist in salt water. Swimming in water where the amoeba resides, rather than drinking it, is how most people get it. Amoebic meningitis is not spreadable.
SYMPTOMS OF MENINGITIS
Symptoms of early meningitis may resemble those of the flu (influenza). Symptoms may appear over a few hours or a few days.
Among the possible indications and symptoms in anyone over the age of two are:
- Seizures.
- Insomnia or difficulties waking up.
- Light sensitivity
- Lack of appetite or thirst.
- Rashes on the skin (sometimes, such as in meningococcal meningitis).
- High fever that arises unexpectedly.
- Neck tense.
- Severe headache that does not appear to be normal.
- Headache accompanied with nausea or vomiting.
- Confusion or difficulty focusing.
SYMPTOMS IN NEWBORNS
These symptoms can be seen in newborns and infants:
- Not getting up to eat.
- Inadequate nutrition.
- Vomiting.
- A soft place on top of a baby's head that bulges (fontanel).TIT
- Stiffness in the body and neck.
- High fever.
- Constant sobbing.
- Excessive sleeping or irritation
- Difficulty waking up from a nap.
- Sluggishness or inactivity.
Infants suffering from meningitis may be difficult to comfort and may cry even more when carried.
MENINGITIS RISK FACTORS
1. Skipping vaccinations: Anyone who has not completed the recommended childhood or adult vaccination regimen is at increased risk.
2. Pregnancy: Pregnancy raises the risk of listeriosis, which is an infection caused by listeria bacteria that can lead to meningitis. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and early birth are all increased by listeriosis.
3. Age: The majority of viral meningitis cases occur in children under the age of five. Bacterial meningitis is frequent in children under the age of 20.
4. Living in a community: Meningococcal meningitis is more common among college students living in dorms, military personnel on bases, and children in boarding schools and child care institutions. This is most likely due to the bacterium's rapid spread in big groups via the respiratory pathway.
5. Immune system is weakened: AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes, immunosuppressive drug usage, and other immune-suppressing factors make you more susceptible to meningitis. Having your spleen removed raises your risk, and anyone who does not have a spleen should get vaccinated to reduce that risk.
MENINGITIS CAUSES
Meningitis is nearly often caused by a bacterial or viral infection that starts elsewhere in your body, such as your ears, sinuses, or throat.
Meningitis can be caused by a variety of less common factors, including:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer treatments.
- Syphilis.
- Tuberculosis.
DIAGNOSIS OF MENINGITIS
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam, which will include evaluating your neck for stiffness and looking for a skin rash that could indicate a bacterial infection. They will also be required to take tests such as:
- Blood tests to find bacteria
- CT or MRI scans of your head to find swelling or inflammation
- Spinal tap, in which a health care worker uses a needle to take fluid from around your spinal cord. It can tell what’s causing your meningitis.
MENINGITIS TREATMENT
The type of meningitis you have will determine your treatment.
Bacterial meningitis requires immediate antibiotic treatment. Even if the doctor hasn't identified the specific bacteria that caused your illness, he or she may prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Once they've done so, they'll switch to a medicine that targets the specific bacterium they've discovered. Corticosteroids may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation.
Without therapy, viral meningitis normally resolves on its own. If you have a fever or pains, your doctor may advise you to stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take over-the-counter pain relievers. If your illness was caused by a virus such as herpes or influenza, you may need to take antiviral medication.
Fungal meningitis can be treated with antifungal medicines.
PREVENTION OF MENINGITIS
Coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush, or a cigarette can all transfer common germs or viruses that cause meningitis.
Meningitis can be avoided by taking the following precautions:
1. Maintain good hygiene. Share no drinks, meals, straws, eating utensils, lip balms, or toothbrushes with others. Teach kids and teenagers not to share these products as well.
2. Hands should be washed. Hand cleaning is important for preventing the transmission of germs. Teach kids to wash their hands frequently, particularly before eating and after using the restroom, as well as before spending time in a crowded public place or stroking animals. Show the kids how to wash and rinse their hands forcefully and thoroughly.
3. Maintain your health. Maintain your immune system by getting adequate sleep, exercising on a regular basis, and eating a healthy diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
4. If you're pregnant, watch what you eat. Cook meat, especially hot dogs and deli meat, to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce your risk of listeriosis (74 C). Cheese manufactured from unpasteurized milk should be avoided. Choose pasteurized milk-made cheeses that are properly labeled.
5. Cover your mouth and nose if you need to cough or sneeze.
MENINGITIS VACCINATIONS
Some types of bacterial meningitis can be avoided with the following vaccinations:
1. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine: The CDC advises that children aged 11 to 12 receive a single dosage, followed by a booster shot at the age of 16. If the vaccination is first administered between the ages of 13 and 15, a booster dose should be administered between the ages of 16 and 18. There is no need for a booster shot if the first shot is administered at the age of 16 or older.
This vaccination can also be administered to children aged 2 months to 10 years who are at high risk of bacterial meningitis or have been exposed to someone who has the condition. It is also used to immunize healthy but previously unvaccinated people who have been exposed during epidemics.
2. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine: This vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children as young as 2 months old. Some adults, such as those with sickle cell disease or AIDS, as well as those without a spleen, are also advised to get the immunization.
3. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13): This vaccine is also included in the WHO and CDC-recommended routine vaccination schedule for children under the age of two. Additional doses are advised for children aged 2 to 5 who are at high risk of pneumococcal illness, such as those with chronic heart or lung disease or cancer,
4. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23): This vaccine may be given to older children and adults who require protection against pneumococcal germs. The CDC recommends the PPSV23 vaccination for all adults over the age of 65, as well as for younger adults and children aged 2 and up who have weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, or sickle cell anemia, and for anybody without a spleen.