Group items tagged

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).

Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus).

Haemophilus influenzae (haemophilus).

Listeria monocytogenes (listeria).

Other meningitis causes

Chronic meningitis

Fungal meningitis

viruses cause a greater number of cases of meningitis than do bacteria. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own. A group of viruses known as enteroviruses is responsible for most viral meningitis cases in the United States. These viruses tend to circulate in late summer and early fall. Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, HIV, mumps, West Nile virus and others also can cause viral meningitis.

Neisseria meningitidis are bacteria that can cause illness in people of any age.

during kissing, sharing of food, drinks or cigarettes, and by close contact with infected people who are sneezing or coughing.

There are vaccines, which can be used to help prevent this kind of meningitis.

s a vaccine called “Hib vaccine” that prevents infants and young children from getting Hib disease

adults are resistant

Streptococcus pneumoniae are bacteria that cause lung and ear infections but can also cause “pneumococcal” meningitis

found in the throa

, people with chronic medical problems or with weakened immune systems, and those who are very young or very old, are at higher risk for getting pneumococcal meningitis.

person-to-person through contact with infected saliva.

Viral meningitis, also called aseptic meningitis, is much more common than bacterial meningitis.

do not wash their hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper or soiled sheets, then touch their own mouths, prepare food for others, or touch others

throat and feces

face-to-face contact

enteroviruses don’t cause people to feel very sick

crankiness or tiredness and poor feeding.

Fever, severe and constant headache, stiff neck or neck pain, nausea and vomiting, and rash can all be signs of meningitis

confusion, sleepiness, and trouble waking up

saliva (spit) or feces (stool)

treptococcus pneumoniae is not spread from person-to-person

Frequent handwashing with soap

Not sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils

Your health care provider

after treatment, patients may still face months of at home anti-fungal treatment and the potential of debilitating side effects from the disease, such as seizures, loss of hearing or sight, paralysis or tremors.

fungal meningitis infections happen when a person inhales infected material (such as old moldy leaf spores)

The outbreak continues to grow daily with increasing numbers of infections and deaths

one who received an injection of this medication from this pharmacy before July 1, 2012 could be at risk. However, it has been proven that a victim in Florida, who has since died, did receive a dose of this tainted medication.

Fever and chillsMental status changesNausea and vomitingSensitivity to light (photophobia)Severe headacheStiff neck (meningismus)

Antibiotics do not treat viral meningitis.

Viral meningitis is usually not serious, and symptoms should disappear within 2 weeks with no lasting complications.

If you think that you or your child has symptoms of meningitis, get emergency medical help immediately. Early treatment is key to a good outcome.

Haemophilus vaccine (HiB vaccine) in children helps prevent one type of bacterial meningitis.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is now a routine childhood immunization. It is very effective at preventing pneumococcal meningitis

acterial meningitis infections are extremely serious, and may result in death or brain damage,

eningococcal vaccination is recommended for:Adolescents ages 11 - 12 and adolescents entering high school (about age 15) who have not already received the vaccination. A booster shot is given between age 16-18.All college freshmen who have not been vaccinated and are living in dorms. Children age 2 and older who do not have their spleen or who have other problems with their immune system.Those traveling to countries where diseases caused by meningococcus are very common (ask your doctor).

eople with cold sores or genital herpes are not at a greater risk of developing herpes meningitis.

AgitationBulging fontanelles in babies Decreased alertnessPoor feeding or irritability in childrenRapid breathing

Unusual posture, with the head and nec

k arched backwards (opisthotonos)

Fast heart rateFeverMental status changesStiff neckIf the hea

Brain damage

Buildup of fluid between the skull and brain (subdural effusion)Hearing lossHydrocephalus

Seizures

causes of meningitis are viral infections that usually get better without treatment.

Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges)

Meningitis may also be caused by:

Chemical irritationDrug allergiesFungiParasitesTumors

anticonvulsants might be given for seizures

The vaccines against Hib, measles, mumps, polio, meningococcus, and pneumococcus can protect against meningitis caused by these microorganisms

Bacterial meningitis is rare

caused by bacteria or viruses, but some can be due to certain medications or illnesses

kids may need supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation if they have difficulty breathing.

kids get vaccinated for meningococcal disease when they're 11 years old

If someone develops shock or low blood pressure, additional IV fluids and certain medications might be given to increase blood pressure

Viral meningitis (also called aseptic meningitis

with a booster shot at age 16

Bacterial meningitis complications can be severe and include neurological problems such as hearing loss, visual impairment, seizures, and learning disabilities.

They might simply have extreme irritability, lethargy, or fever. They may be difficult to comfort, even when they are picked up and rocked

s relatively common and far less serious

fever lethargy (decreased consciousness) irritability headache photophobia (eye sensitivity to light) stiff neck skin rashes seizures

those who've had bacterial meningitis should have a hearing test following their recovery

People of any age can get meningitis

The vaccine also might be recommended for kids between 6 weeks and 10 years old who have certain high-risk medical problems, and for people traveling to countries where meningitis is more common

spread among those living in close quarters, teens, college students, and boarding-school students are at higher risk for infection.

The heart, kidneys, and adrenal glands also might be affected, depending on the cause of the infection

If dealt with promptly, meningitis can be treated successfully

get routine vaccinations

know the signs of meningitis

good hygiene is an important

Common symptoms include:

Infants with meningitis may not have common symptoms

if you suspect that your child has the illness, seek medical care right away

Encourage kids to wash their hands thoroughly and often, particularly before eating and after using the bathroom

Avoiding close contact with someone who is obviously ill and not sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils can help halt the spread of germs as well.

Most cases of meningitis — both viral and bacterial — are due to infections that are contagious, spread via tiny drops of fluid from the throat and nose of someone who is infected.

Other symptoms of meningitis in infants can include: jaundice (a yellowish tint to the skin) stiffness of the body and neck fever or lower-than-normal temperature poor feeding a weak suck a high-pitched cry bulging fontanelles (the soft spot at the top/front of the baby's skull)

airborne when the person coughs, laughs, talks, or sneezes.

They then can infect others when people breathe them in or touch the drops and then touch their own noses or mouths

Bacteria and viruses that infect the skin, urinary system, or gastrointestinal and respiratory tract can spread by the bloodstream to the meninges through cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that circulates in and around the spinal cord.

Many different types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis

In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria spread to the meninges from a severe head trauma or a severe local infection, such as a serious ear infection (otitis media) or nasal sinus infection (sinusitis).

Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect your child has meningitis or has symptoms such as vomiting, headache, lethargy or confusion, neck stiffness, rash, and fever

Infants who have fever, irritability, poor feeding, and lethargy should also be assessed by a doctor right away.

Infections most often spread between people who are in close contact, such as those who live together or people who are exposed by kissing or sharing eating utensils. Casual contact at school or work with someone who has one of these infections usually will not transmit the infectious agent.

tends to cause flu-like symptoms

Most cases of viral meningitis resolve completely within 7 to 10 days, without any complications or need for treatment

If your child has had contact with someone who has meningitis (for example, in a childcare center or a college dorm), call your doctor to ask whether preventive medication is recommended

Sharing food, drinking glasses, eating utensils, tissues, or towels all can transmit infection as well. Some infectious organisms can spread through a person's stool (poop), and someone who comes in contact with the stool — such as kids in daycare — may develop the infection.

newborns, the most common causes are Group B streptococcus

In older kids, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) are more often the causes

if you think that your child has any form of meningitis, it's important to see the doctor right away.

Another bacteria, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), also can cause the illness but because of widespread childhood immunization, these cases are rarer

If meningitis is suspected, the doctor will order laboratory tests to help make the diagnosis, probably including a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to collect a sample of spinal fluid.

many different viruses can lead to viral meningitis

coxsackievirus and poliovirus

, although some kids are allowed to recover at home if they are not too ill. Treatment aimed at relieving symptoms includes rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medication.

Someone with viral meningitis may be hospitalized

If bacterial meningitis is diagnosed — or even suspected — doctors will start intravenous (IV

antibiotic

Fluids may be given to replace those lost to fever, sweating, vomiting, and poor appetite.

soon as possibl

Sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils, or water bottles Being in crowded situations for prolonged periods of time Kissing Not getting enough sleep Smoking (or being exposed to smoke) Living in close quarters (eg, dormitories, boarding schools, sleep-away camps)

Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination

Severe headache Stiff neck Eyes sensitive to light Chills Fever Muscle pain Sore throat Drowsiness Confusion Rash Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting

Treating Viral Meningitis

esting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking medication to relieve symptoms

Is Viral Meningitis Contagious?

How to Prevent Viral Meningitis

Get vaccinated

Avoid mosquitoes.

Wash your hands

Disinfect.

Causes of Viral Meningitis

Nearly 90 percent of viral meningitis cases are caused by viruses in the enterovirus family

Chickenpox virus (varicella virus) Mumps virus West Nile virus Viruses transmitted by bites from infected mosquitoes Rabies virus Type 1 and type 2 herpes viruses HIV

Symptoms of Viral Meningitis

Severe headache Stiff neck Eyes sensitive to light Chills Fever Muscle pain Sore throat Drowsiness Confusion Rash Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting

atients having spinal procedures (eg, spinal anaesthetics) are at increased risk and Pseudomonas spp. may then be the cause.

Other risk factors include bacterial endocarditis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism and cirrhosis, intravenous drug abuse, renal insufficiency, adrenal insufficiency, malignancy (increased risk of listerial infection), hypoparathyroidism, thalassaemia major and cystic fibrosis.

Crowding (eg, military recruits and college students) increases the risk of outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis.

Neonat

fants and young children: H. influenzae type b, if younger than 4 years and unvaccinated; Neisseria me

Hospital-acquired and post-traumatic meningitis

N. meningitidis: usually local outbreaks among young adults

Meningococcal meningitis is endemic in parts of Africa, India and other developing nations.

Neonates are at greater risk of meningitis

ow birth weight (below 2500 g),

premature delivery, premature rupture of membranes, traumatic delivery, fetal hypoxia and maternal peripartum infection.

iral infec

on - eg, mumps, echovirus, Coxsackievirus, HSV and herpes zoster virus, HIV, measles, influenza, arboviruses.[10] 

Fungal infection:

alignant cells (leukaemia, lymphoma, other tumours).

Chemical meningitis (intrathecal drugs, contaminants).

Fever, headache.

tiff neck

Altered mental state, unconsciousness, toxic/moribund state

hock:

Kernig's sign

rudzinski's sign

Paresis, focal neurological deficits

eizures.

Children under age 5Teenagers and young adults age 16-25Adults over age 55

Who Is Most at Risk for Meningitis?

influenzae type b (Hib) was a common cause of meningitis in infants and young children until the Hib vaccine was introduced for infants.

Viral meningitis tends to be less severe, and most people recover completely. 

Fungal meningitis is a rare form of meningitis and generally occurs only in people with weakened immune systems.

caused by a bacterial or viral infection that began elsewhere in the body