MENINGITIS
Meningitis is a rare infection that affects the delicate membranes called meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord.
CAUSES
Meningitis is almost always caused by a bacterial or viral infection that begins somewhere else in your body, like your ears, sinuses, or throat.
There are several causes of this disease, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi
Bacterial Meningitis
It’s an extremely serious illness, it can be life-threatening or lead to brain damage unless you get quick treatment.
Several kinds of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis. The most common ones are:
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus).
Listeria monocytogenes (in older people, pregnant women, or those with immune system problems).
In many cases, bacterial meningitis starts when bacteria get into your bloodstream from your sinuses, ears, or throat. The bacteria travel through your bloodstream to your brain.
The bacteria that cause meningitis can spread when people who are infected cough or sneeze.
Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is more common than the bacterial form and generally but not always less serious. A number of viruses can trigger the disease, including several that can cause diarrhea.
Fungal Meningitis
Fungal meningitis is much less common than the bacterial or viral forms. Healthy people rarely get it. Someone with a problem with their immune system because they have AIDS, for example is more likely to become infected with this form of meningitis.
SYMPTOMS
Meningitis symptoms can develop within hours or days and may include:
Confusion
Fever
Headache
Numbness in your face
Sensitivity to light
Stiff neck so that you can’t lower your chin to your chest
Upset stomach or vomiting.
COMPLICATIONS
Meningitis complications can be severe. The longer you have the disease without treatment, the greater the risk of seizures and permanent neurological damage, including:
Hearing loss
Memory difficulty
Learning disabilities
Brain damage
DIAGNOSIS
Blood cultures. Blood samples are placed in a special dish to see if it grows microorganisms, particularly bacteria.
Imaging. Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head may show inflammation.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
RISK FACTORS
Anyone can get meningitis, but research shows that it’s more common in these age groups:
Children under 5
Teenagers and young adults ages 16-25
Adults over 55.
Meningitis is more of a danger for people with certain medical conditions, such as a damaged or missing spleen, long-term disease, or immune system disorders.
PREVENTION
Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.
These steps can help prevent meningitis:
Wash your hands.
Practice good hygiene.
Cover your mouth. When you need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose.
TREATMENT
Your treatment will depend on the type of meningitis you have.
Bacterial meningitis needs immediate treatment with antibiotics. Your doctor might give you a general, or broad-spectrum, antibiotic even before they’ve found the exact bacteria that caused your illness and then change to a drug that targets the specific bacteria they find. You might also get corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
Viral meningitis usually goes away on its own without treatment. Your doctor might tell you to stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take over-the-counter pain medicines if you have fever or aches. If a virus like herpes or influenza caused your illness, you might take antiviral medication.
Antifungal medications can treat fungal meningitis.