Meningitis, also called meningococcal disease, is caused by either a bacterial or a viral infection within spinal fluid and fluid surrounding the brain. This causes infection and inflammation of the meninges (the membranes covering the spinal core and the brain).
This inflammation causes headache, which may be severe, fever and other symptoms and complications.
Features
Meningitis is usually either bacterial or viral, with viral being the most common form and bacterial being the most dangerous form. The bacterial form, called meningococcal meningitis, is contagious and is the kind responsible for multiple cases in universities and other situations where people live in close quarters. It is spread person to person through contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person, either directly, or indirectly--from eating off the same plate at the same time, for example.
Bacterial meningitis can occur after or during other types of infections, such as ear infections, if the bacteria spread to the meninges.
The viral form can be caused by a number of common viruses.
Symptoms
According to the World Health Organization, the most common symptoms are headache, stiffness in the neck, photosensitivity (pain or discomfort when in bright rooms or in sunlight), vomiting, fever and mental fog (confusion). Skin rashes and convulsions are other possible symptoms.
Sometimes viral meningitis symptoms include nasal congestion and may be mistaken for the flu.
Effects
Untreated, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. The sooner antibiotics are started, however, the better the chance a person has for a full recovery. Even if a person survives despite delayed treatment, he or she may suffer brain damage from the illness.
Viral meningitis causes pain and discomfort but is usually much less serious than bacterial meningitis and usually runs its course in under two weeks.
Treatment
Vaccinations offer some protection against certain bacterial forms of meningitis. When bacterial meningitis does occur, antibiotics should be started as soon as possible. Persons with this form of meningitis are usually hospitalized and given antibiotics intravenously.
In otherwise healthy patients, viral meningitis is treated simply with rest and treatment for the pain and fever.
Prevention/Solution
Meningococcal vaccines protect against some of the most common bacterial forms. There are no vaccines for the viral form, but good sanitary techniques--such as hand washing and disinfecting surfaces--help prevent both bacterial and viral forms.
As an additional preventative measure, doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics to those exposed to anyone with bacterial meningitis.
Warning
Always treat meningitis symptoms seriously as the bacterial form does damage the brain and can be fatal if it is not treated early enough or if it is severe. Babies with symptoms such as high fever, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea should always be checked out by a doctor.
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