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What is it? Causes…
Meningitis is a condition where the membranes (meninges) of the spinal cord and brain become inflamed due to infectious causes such as viruses, bacteria or fungus. Meningitis can also be due to noninfectious causes such as another illness, birth defects, trauma or medications. Bacterial meningitis occurs in about 3 in 100,000 people each year in the United States and viral meningitis occurs in about 10 in 100,000. Approximately 70% of meningitis cases happen in children less than 5 years old and in adults older than 60. Bacterial meningitis leads to death in 25% of cases when left untreated, but with antibiotics the risk of death is less than 15%. Viral meningitis is only fatal in less than 1% of cases and typically resolves in 7-10 days.
Who is at highest risk?
1) Age
a) Children under the age of five are at higher risk of getting viral meningitis
b) The age group 15 to 24 are at higher risk of getting bacterial meningitis
2) Living in a community setting. Especially people in the military and students living in a college dorm.
3) Pregnant women
4) People that work around animals
5) People with a compromised immune system. Such as AIDS and Lupus patients.
Signs and Symptoms
Many of the symptoms associated with meningitis can be confused with the flu. These symptoms include a high fever, head ache with or without nausea and vomiting, a stiff neck, light sensitivity, and skin rash. The
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more severe symptoms involve sleepiness, confusion/difficulty concentrating, hearing loss, seizures, and brain damage.
Treatment
The treatment of meningitis is based on the underlying cause of the meningitis. For viral meningitis there is not a specific treatment so only supportive care is given to relief the patient's current symptoms like bed rest, increased fluid intake and medications to reduce fever and alleviate body aches. For bacterial meningitis, patients are treated with intravenous antibiotics in a hospital. Fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal medications like amphotericin B and fluconazole.
Prevention
Different things can be done in order to prevent the occurrence of meningitis. Steps to prevention include washing your hands properly and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze because meningitis can be spread through coughing, sneezing and sharing things like cups. Another way to prevention infection is to stay healthy by getting plenty of rest, eating healthy and exercising to maintain a healthy immune system. Immunizations are another way to prevent infectious meningitis. The Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal conjugated, and the meningococcal conjugated vaccines are scheduled vaccines given to children to help decrease the chances of becoming infected and getting meningitis.
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