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rjurski481

Hospital-acquired bacterial meningitis in neuros... [J Neurosurg. 1977] - PubMed - NCBI - 0 views

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...845632

Meningitis HSA EngII bacterial

shared by rjurski481 on 07 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • The authors review 23 cases of hospital-acquired meningitis occurring over a 15 year period in neurosurgical patients.
  • 23 cases of hospital-acquired meningitis occurring over a 15 year period in neurosurgical patients. Factors associated with the development of meningitis include recent craniotomy, cerebrospinal fluid leak, the presence of ventricular or lumbar drainage tubes, and skull fracture. Four cases were caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis; one of these patients died.
  • 19 cases, Gram-negative enteric bacteria were the etiologic agents, most commonly members of the Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia group. Eleven of these patients died. The particular antibiotic or group of antibiotics used and the route of administration made no difference in the outcome of Gram-negative bacillary meningitis.
  • haleyhurt268 on 07 Sep 14
     
    how many patients get meningitis (neurological)
shaneep110

Meningococcal meningitis - Prevention - 0 views

www.medmerits.com/...P6

EnglishII HSA MeningitisGoogleGroup Challenge1

shared by shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14 - No Cached
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      The first paragraph and maybe the second/third are the only ones of value.
  • Meningococcal disease risk can be decreased by approximately 90% in household contacts of a patient by administration of antibiotics known to eradicate meningococcal carriage
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Meningococcal - Inflammation of the meninges due to infection with the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
  • hemoprophylaxis significantly decreased the risk of meningococcal disease for household contacts with a risk ratio of 0.11 for those receiving chemoprophylaxis
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      chemoprophylaxis - the use of drugs to prevent disease.
  • ...17 more annotations...
  • This is based on a meta-analysis of 4 retrospective studies and one small trial with 1249 cases of meningococcal disease and more than 4200 household contacts
  • In the United States, antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis is the primary means for prevention of meningococcal disease among close contacts of a patient with invasive meningococcal disease
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      antimicrobial - an agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. 
  • The number needed to treat to prevent a single secondary household case was 218
  • (Purcell et al 2004). T
  • herefore, chemoprophylaxis should be recommended for the index patient with meningococcal disease and all household contacts within 24 hours of diagnosis of the primary case.
  • There are no high quality experimental trials addressing control policies for meningococcal disease and no adequate studies of chemoprophylaxis in day care settings. Nevertheless, current management guidelines support chemoprophylaxis within 24 hours for all close contacts
  • Chemoprophylaxis administered more than 14 days after contact with an index case is probably of no value. Also, chemoprophylaxis does not protect against subsequent reacquisition of N meningitidis.
  • Close Contacts Warranting Chemoprophylaxis for Meningococcal Disease
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      New Title: ways of transmission 
  • Persons having contact with patient’s oral secretions during 7 days prior to disease onset
  • -- Kissing -- Sharing of toothbrushes -- Sharing of eating utensils -- Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation -- Unprotected contact during endotracheal intubation
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Unprotected Sex
  • Persons at Low Risk for Whom Chemoprophylaxis is Not Recommended
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      New Title: Low Risk People
  • Casual contact (eg, at school or work) without direct exposure to patient’s oral secretions Indirect contact only (ie, only contact is with a high-risk contact and not a case) Health care worker without direct exposure to patient’s oral secretions
  • Rifampin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Rifampin - a reddish-brown antibiotic used chiefly to treat tuberculosis and leprosy. ceftriaxone - Treats infections caused by certain types of bacteria. This medicine is a cephalosporin antibiotic.  cephalosporin - any of a group of semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics resembling penicillin. ciprofloxacin - This medicine is a quinolone antibiotic that treats infections and is given to people who have been exposed to anthrax. quinolone - any of a class of antibiotics used in treating a variety of mainly Gram-negative infections, and thought to be responsible for antibiotic resistance in some microbes. Gram-negative - a staining technique for the preliminary identification of bacteria, in which a violet dye is applied, followed by a decolorizing agent and then a red dye. The cell walls of certain bacteria
  • (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000; 2001; Committee on Infectious Disease 2000).
  • azithromycin
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      azithromycin - Treats bacterial infections. This medicine is a macrolide antibiotic. macrolide - any of a class of antibiotics containing a lactone ring, of which the first and best known is erythromycin. lactone - an organic compound containing an ester group -OCO- as part of a ring. erythromycin - an antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused byan antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. It is similar in its effects to penicillin. Gram-positive - a staining technique for the preliminary identification of bacteria, in which a violet dye is applied, followed by a decolorizing agent and then a red dye. The cell walls of certain bacteria.
  • nasopharyngeal
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      nasopharyngeal - of or relating to or located near the nasopharynx nasopharynx - the upper part of the pharynx, connecting with the nasal cavity above the soft palate.
  • the drug of choice is rifampin, which is both effective and inexpensive. For young children rifampin can be administered with greater patient acceptance in a flavored syrup. Rifampin is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Rifampin may interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives, and some antiepileptic and anticoagulant medications. Rifampin may also stain the urine orange for a couple days and may stain soft contact lenses. Ciprofloxacin is also not recommended for use in pregnant women.
ddail172

Meningitis, Bacterial Meningitis | Patient.co.uk - 0 views

www.patient.co.uk/...meningitis-pro

prevention meningitis patient bacterial

shared by ddail172 on 03 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • eningitis occurs in people of all age groups but infants, young
  • he epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in the UK has changed dramatically over a period of two decades following the introduction of vaccines to control
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b, serogroup C meningococcus and pneumococcal disease
  • ...25 more annotations...
  • 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.
  • Vaccination against H. influenzae type b, meningococcus group C and S. pneumoniae. Appropriate prophylaxis of people in close contact with those diagnosed
  • ddail172 on 07 Sep 14
     
    Prevention of meningitis that s very organized
bgibson167

Meningitis and Septicaemia | Health | Patient.co.uk - 0 views

www.patient.co.uk/...meningitis-leaflet

shared by bgibson167 on 07 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • Bacterial meningitis and associated septicaemia have become less common in a period of 25 years
  • However, there are still nearly 10 cases every day.
  • to 3,200 people every year.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • caused by a bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis
  • children under the age of 5 years and teenagers are the most at risk from meningococcal meningitis.
  • Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis but exact figures are not known. It is a complication of various viral illnesses.
  • Viral meningitis is usually less serious than a bacterial cause.
  • Other germs such as fungi and tuberculosis (TB) are rare causes of meningitis.
  • Meningitis is inflammation of the tissues around the brain. It is a serious condition, caused by various germs - bacteria, viruses and fungi. The infection that causes meningitis often causes a blood infection as well (this is known as septicaemia). If you suspect meningitis - obtain medical help immediately.
  • kogburn084 on 07 Sep 14
     
    Meningitis 
destinytaylor

Signs, symptoms of Meningitis - WSMV Channel 4 - 0 views

www.wsmv.com/...signs-symptoms-of-meningitis

signs symptoms of Meningitis bacterial

shared by destinytaylor on 06 Sep 15 - No Cached
  • You've probably heard meningitis called either a viral or bacterial infection, but you may not know the difference between the two. Viral meningitis is usually caused by another viral disease such as the flu and is much more common than the bacterial form. Viral meningitis is considered extremely contagious, but doctors say it's rarely fatal. Patients usually show symptoms for a week or two, then see a full recovery. Bacterial meningitis On the other hand, bacterial meningitis is considered a critical illness that is usually caused by an internal infection and can worsen in a matter of hours. Complications could cause permanent hearing or vision loss, brain damage, paralysis and even death. Bacterial meningitis is usually only spread by coughing or sneezing
    • destinytaylor
      destinytaylor on 06 Sep 15
       
      these are two meningitis viruses you can catch
  • destinytaylor on 06 Sep 15
     
    two meningitis viruses
taliyahcarter845

Meningitis - 1 views

kidshealth.org/...meningitis.html

meningitis

shared by taliyahcarter845 on 02 Sep 15 - No Cached
  • The first symptoms of bacterial or viral meningitis can come on quickly or surface several days after someone has had a cold, diarrhea and vomiting, or other signs of an infection.
  • Bacterial meningitis is rare, but is usually serious and can be life threatening if not treated right away. Viral meningitis (also called aseptic meningitis) is relatively common and far less serious. It often remains undiagnosed because its symptoms can be similar to those of the common flu.
  • Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
  • ...36 more annotations...
  • People of any age can get meningitis, but because it can be easily spread among those living in close quarters, teens, college students, and boarding-school students are at higher risk for infection.
  • important to get routine vaccinations, know the signs of meningitis, and if you suspect that your child has the illness, seek medical care right away.
  • age of the patient
  • might require additional treatment.
  • immunization can go a long way toward preventing meningitis
  • symptoms vary,
  • hould be immunized
  • nticonvulsants might be given for seizures
  • evelops shock or low blood pressure
  • may need supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation if they have difficulty breathing.
  • meningococcal disease when they're 11 years old, with a booster shot at age 16.
  • severe and include neurological problems such as hearing loss, visual impairment, seizures, and learning disabilities.
  • ause of the infection.
  • fever lethargy (decreased consciousness) irritability headache photophobia (eye sensitivity to light) stiff neck skin rashes seizures
  • 6 weeks and 10 years old who have certain high-risk medical problems, and for people traveling to countries where meningitis is more common.
  • nfants with meningitis may not have common symptoms
  • ewborns, the most common causes are Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and less commonly, Listeria monocytogenes.
  • difficult to comfort,
  • contagious,
  • Many of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are fairly common and associated with other routine illnesses.
  • oughs, laughs, talks, or sneezes
  • fect 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.
  • aundice (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)
  • 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)
  • lose contact, such as those who live together or people who are exposed by kissing or sharing eating utensils.
  • flu-like symptoms,
  • Many different types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis.
  • xtreme irritability, lethargy, or fever.
  • lder kids, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus)
  • acterial meningitis can be so serious,
  • aemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
  • lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to collect a sample of spinal fluid.
  • iruses can lead to viral meningitis, including enteroviruses
  • may be hospitalized
  • (IV) antibiotics
  • Many of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are fairly common and associated with other routine illnesses. 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.
    • taliyahcarter845
      taliyahcarter845 on 06 Sep 15
       
      How it's caused
kariearles

Practice Guidelines for the Management of Bacterial Meningitis - 0 views

cid.oxfordjournals.org/...1267.full

shared by kariearles on 09 Sep 15 - No Cached
  • The initial treatment approach to the patient with suspected acute bacterial meningitis depends on early recognition of the meningitis syndrome, rapid diagnostic evaluation, and emergent antimicrobial and adjunctive therapy
msmith365

CDC Telebriefing: Status of Serogroup B Meningitis Cases in the United States | CDC New... - 1 views

www.cdc.gov/...25-serogroup-b-meningitis.html

cdc status cases united states meningitis HSA Challenge1

shared by msmith365 on 17 Sep 15 - No Cached
  • So, I’m going to give a basic overview of meningococcal disease, and provide you with some facts which can help families and providers understand and be aware of potential of meningococcal disease of students traveling home for the holidays.  Meningococcal disease can be devastating and can strike otherwise healthy individuals.  Every case of meningococcal disease really causes increased concern.  But outbreaks cause an especially high amount of anxiety.
  • Princeton and UC Santa Barbara
  • serogroup B meningococcal disease
  • ...33 more annotations...
  • Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria neisseria meningitidis
  • ent.  Our universities—many universities have very high coverage with the licensed and recommended vaccine that protects against serogroup C and Y. So we started to see fewer cases of serogroup C and Y meningococcal disease and more cases of serogroup B disease.
  • Reports of this disease is more common in the winter months.  Typically almost all cases of meningococcal disease are sporadic.  Very few cases occur as part of our -- as part of an outbreak in terms of the total number of cases we see in the United States.  But we do see a couple of meningococcal disease outbreaks typically every year.
  • Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which is known as the meninges. 
  • Septicemia is an infection of the blood stream, and septicemia causes bleeding in the skin and organs and is often when we see complications from meningococcal disease that are not neurologic, it's frequently caused by septicemia.
  • bout 15 percent of survivors have long term disabilities such as loss of limbs, deafness, nervous system problems, or brain damage.  Early recognition and early treatment of meningococcal disease is key to reduce the long-term sequelae. 
  • ten difficult to diagnose meningococcal disease because often the first signs and symptoms are similar to the flu
  • even with antibiotic treatment, people die in about 10 to 15 percent of cases of meningococcal disea
  • Vaccination is the best way to prevent meningococcal disease when it's a vaccine preventable strain.  Hand washing and covering your coughs or sneezes is also a good practice to follow.  It's critical everybody be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease and to seek treatment immediately. 
  • igns and symptoms of meningococcal disease include rapid onset of high fever, headache, and stiff neck.  And when we say headache, we mean it's among the worst headaches that somebody's had in their life.  And with the stiff neck, they really can't move their neck, or they can't, for example, touch their chin to their neck.  Towards their chest, excuse me.  Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, confusion, exhaustion, and sometimes a rash.
  • eningococcal bacteria are harder to spread than viruses
  • don't live long outside the body. 
  • pread through the exchange of respiratory secretions. 
  • oommates who spend a lot of time together, are potential close contacts of a case of meningococcal disease.
  • about 10 percent of people, not just in outbreaks, but all over in the United States, carry these bacteria in the back of their nose or throat and don't ever develop symptoms.  This is known as carriage or being a carrier.
  • nce a person becomes a carrier, most people develop immunity and the bacteria disappear from their nose and throat and then they're no longer a carrier.  But rarely, the bacteria invades the blood stream and this is what happens when a person develops the disease.
  • most cases of meningococcal disease appear to be random and aren't directly linked to each other.  Even in the case of an outbreak—the cases are not occurring among close contact with each other, it's happening in an organization or community. 
  • he most common one circulating in the United States are serogroups B, C and Y. 
  • e don't have a vaccine in the U.S. licensed to protect against serogroup B, which is the cause of the cases at Princeton University and UC Santa Barbara. 
  • Cases are reported quickly, meningococcal disease is highly recognized, and reported to health departments. 
  • CDC defines an outbreak of meningococcal disease of three or more cases in three months that can't be connected to each other.
  • these outbreaks occur in a certain population, like school or organizations.  Most outbreaks of this disease are self-limited and no more than three or four cases occur.  However, when cases continue to occur over several-month period, like what is happening at Princeton University, intervention is required to reduce the length of the outbreak. 
  • equesting use of vaccine for additional outbreaks when needed.
  • Partners are working hard to organize potential serogroup B vaccine campaigns at Princeton University as quickly as possible. 
  • o there's all sorts of quality things that are happening to make sure that the vaccine arrives and can be used safely and effectively.
  • Therefore, we are sending out a health alert to providers and state and local health departments, which will hopefully increase awareness for providers to consider meningococcal disease in their differential diagnosis, if a student presents with symptoms from one of these two universities. 
  • Serogroup is definitely a scientific word to describe the type of capsule around the meningococcal.  You can use the word strain when we describe different serogroups.  The word strain would be the b strain or c strain.  When we're talking about whether or not strains are linked to each other, there we do additional molecular testing which looks at more than the capsule to see if the strains are the same.  For example, we know that the strains that have caused all of the cases in -- at Princeton are identical.  That's what helps us understand if an outbreak is being caused by one strain.  And that doesn't necessarily mean you could have the same serogroup, but the strains could look a little different. 
  • f anything, it's just sorting reminding people to use good normal hygiene practices, such as washing your hands and coughing and sneezing into your arm.  And sort of having increased awareness for good hygiene practices. 
  • ases really do occur in this university setting where there's probably a very specific pattern of transmission among college students.  So we really don't have evidence to suggest that kids going home for Thanksgiving will be spreading the strain into those communities. 
  • here have been seven confirmed serogroup B cases at Princeton University, and one additional case in which additional testing is being conducted right now.  And there are three cases at UC Santa Barbara. 
  • But more people are carriers than there are actually cases.  I see what your question is, why are we not then worried about it spreading into the community.  We don't have a good -- we don't have a great understanding of the organism and how it spreads.  But what we do understand is that outbreaks really haven’t spread from universities into communities in the past.  There have been community outbreaks of meningococcal disease.  But we haven't seen cases occurring in universities expanding into those communities. 
  • So in most of our outbreaks, we see about three or four cases occur in a couple of month period of time and then we don't see additional cases.  Depending on the size of the college or organization in which the outbreak is occurring, those attack rates usually range anywhere from 10 to 20 per 100,000.  So one to two cases per 1,000 people at the university. 
  • Health officials follow up with a patient to see if they've come into close contact and then they recommend preventive antibiotics to close contacts.
  • msmith365 on 17 Sep 15
     
    A recorded debriefing on recent trends of Meningitis by CDC officials
marandahalstead

What You Need To Know About The Tennessee Meningitis Outbreak - Lannom & Williams Trial... - 1 views

www.lannomwilliams.com/...-tennessee-meningitis-outbreak

shared by marandahalstead on 28 Sep 15 - No Cached
  • We have the most cases of infection and deaths due to it
  • ymptoms are headache, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. If left untreated, these progress rapidly to seizures, loss of hearing or sight, strokes and even death
  • only treatment for fungal meningitis is IV anti-fungal medication.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • 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.
bwilliams181

Staphylococcal Meningitis: Risk Factors, Causes & Diagnosis - 1 views

www.healthline.com/...meningitis-staphylococcal

prevention EnglishII deflitch HSA Challenge1 meningitis MeningitisGoogleGroup

shared by bwilliams181 on 10 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • Staphylococcal meningitis (SM) is a bacterial infection affecting the meninges—the protective covering around the spinal cord and brain
  • rare and can be deadly.
  • either community- or hospital-acquired.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • it is usually a complication of a surgical procedure.
  • Early symptoms of SM are vague and may not be taken seriously because they resemble a cold or flu.
  • They grow more serious as the infection worsens.
  • Treatment is difficult because the condition is so rare.
  • Many patients are given the wrong antibiotics upon hospital arrival. Even with correct antibiotics, the risk of death is very high. Those with underlying chronic conditions have a higher risk of mortality.
shaneep110

Meningitis - Prevention.com - 1 views

www.prevention.com/...meningitis

EnglishII HSA MeningitisGoogleGroup Challenge1

shared by shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • Meningitis is an inflammation of coverings (meninges) of the brain and spinal cord.
  • Most often it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
  • systemic lupus erythematosus.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease that leads to long-term (chronic) inflammation.
  • ...37 more annotations...
  • Viral, or aseptic, meningitis is the most common type.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      aspestic - free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms.
  • In general, viral meningitis is not directly contagious. Anyone can get viral meningitis, but it occurs most often in children. Many different viruses can cause meningitis
  • an enterovirus tends to be the usual culprit.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Meaning of enterovirus - any of a group of RNA viruses that typically occur in the gastrointestinal tract, sometimes spreading to the central nervous system or other parts of the body. gastrointestinal - of or relating to the stomach and the intestines.
  • In the past, the three most common types of bacterial meningitis were caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Neisseria meningitidis, often referred to as meningococcus, is a bacterium that can cause meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease such as meningococcemia, a life-threatening sepsis. Haemophilus influenzae is a Gram-negative, coccobacillary, facultatively anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Pasteurellaceae family. H. influenzae was first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic. Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, aerotolerant, aerobic member of the genus Streptococcus.
  • Viral meningitis due to enterovirus peaks in mid-summer through early autumn. But it can occur any time of the year.
  • Bacterial meningitis
  • is a very serious and potentially fatal infection.
  • It can strike very healthy people, but infants and older people are more susceptible.
  • Except for the rare case of herpes meningitis, viral meningitis will resolve on its own after 7 to 10 days.
  • Now that we have very effective vaccines to help prevent all three types, bacterial meningitis in otherwise healthy children and adults occurs less often.
  • Besides infants and the elderly, people with chronic diseases and/or impaired immune systems have the greatest risk of meningitis caused by bacteria and fungi.
  • Symptoms
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      These three are common side-effects, so it may not be noticed at first.
  • The symptoms of meningitis vary, but often include:
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      All are common except sensitivity to light, so meningitis is hard to figure out when its happening.
  • Other symptoms may include:
  • Symptoms may be milder in cases of viral meningitis, while in cases of bacterial meningitis, symptoms may come on quite suddenly. In very young children, symptoms may be particularly hard to detect.
  • The fluid is removed from the spinal cord with a needle in a procedure known as a spinal tap or lumbar puncture.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Lumbar- back
  • Diagnosis
  • Meningitis is diagnosed by testing some of the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord for disease-causing bacteria or infection-fighting cells.
  • Babies with meningitis may be less active, vomit, refuse to eat or be irritable. A person in later stages of bacterial meningitis may have seizures and lose consciousness (pass out).
  • Expected Duration
  • Some people carry the germs in their nose and throat and can pass them on to other people, even though these "carriers" are not sick.
  • Viral meningitis tends to get better on its own in seven to 10 days. In contrast, if bacterial meningitis is not diagnosed and treated early, it can cause permanent disability or death.
  • Prevention
  • he bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are found in bodily fluids, such as saliva and mucus, and are spread by direct contact.
  • The length of time that medication is needed for bacterial meningitis depends on the person's age, response to the medication and other factors.
  • If you are in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, you may be given antibiotics to prevent you from getting the disease.
  • Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia shot), Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis is the best way to prevent bacterial meningitis.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Definitions above
  • There is no vaccine to prevent the common types of viral meningitis.
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Look up research on what's being done about this, perhaps.
  • Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. It requires high dose intravenous antibiotics in a hospital setting. Depending upon the patient and suspected type of bacterial meningitis, intravenous dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, may be given at the time of diagnosis
    • shaneep110
      shaneep110 on 05 Sep 14
       
      Intravenous - IV Dexamethasone is a potent synthetic member of the glucocorticoid class of steroid drugs that has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. Corticosteroid - any of a group of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or made synthetically. There are two kinds: glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. They have various metabolic functions and some are used to treat inflammation.
  • Viral meningitis is treated much like the flu, with rest and plenty of fluids, and you should recover in a week to 10 days.
  • Treatment
  • If you or your child is exhibiting symptoms of meningitis, contact your doctor immediately.
  • For people with viral meningitis, the outlook is excellent.
  • The prognosis for bacterial meningitis depends on the person's age, which bacterium is causing the disease, and how early the disease was diagnosed.
  • Up to 10% of people with this disease will die, and a larger percentage of survivors have long-term consequences, such as hearing loss or neurological problems.
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