Meningitis - Prevention.com - 1 views
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Meningitis is an inflammation of coverings (meninges) of the brain and spinal cord.
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Most often it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
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systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease that leads to long-term (chronic) inflammation.
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Viral, or aseptic, meningitis is the most common type.
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aspestic - free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms.
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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
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an enterovirus tends to be the usual culprit.
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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.
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In the past, the three most common types of bacterial meningitis were caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
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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.
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Viral meningitis due to enterovirus peaks in mid-summer through early autumn. But it can occur any time of the year.
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Bacterial meningitis
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is a very serious and potentially fatal infection.
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It can strike very healthy people, but infants and older people are more susceptible.
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Except for the rare case of herpes meningitis, viral meningitis will resolve on its own after 7 to 10 days.
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Now that we have very effective vaccines to help prevent all three types, bacterial meningitis in otherwise healthy children and adults occurs less often.
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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.
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Symptoms
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The symptoms of meningitis vary, but often include:
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All are common except sensitivity to light, so meningitis is hard to figure out when its happening.
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Other symptoms may include:
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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.
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The fluid is removed from the spinal cord with a needle in a procedure known as a spinal tap or lumbar puncture.
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Diagnosis
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Meningitis is diagnosed by testing some of the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord for disease-causing bacteria or infection-fighting cells.
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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).
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Expected Duration
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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.
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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.
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Prevention
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he bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are found in bodily fluids, such as saliva and mucus, and are spread by direct contact.
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The length of time that medication is needed for bacterial meningitis depends on the person's age, response to the medication and other factors.
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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.
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Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia shot), Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis is the best way to prevent bacterial meningitis.
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There is no vaccine to prevent the common types of viral meningitis.
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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
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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.
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Viral meningitis is treated much like the flu, with rest and plenty of fluids, and you should recover in a week to 10 days.
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Treatment
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If you or your child is exhibiting symptoms of meningitis, contact your doctor immediately.
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For people with viral meningitis, the outlook is excellent.
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The prognosis for bacterial meningitis depends on the person's age, which bacterium is causing the disease, and how early the disease was diagnosed.
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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.
