Meningitis

Overview

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges or the three membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. In most cases, the condition is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Meningitis can afflict infants, children and adults. Today, vaccinations are offered by most of the educational institutes to curtail the spread of the condition through teens and young adults. In addition, vaccines are available for travelers visiting foreign countries where the prevalence of meningitis may be higher.

Meningitis is extremely contagious and can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Both bacterial and viral meningitis are contagious. Meningitis statistics are available from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Meningitis is also known as viral or bacterial spinal meningitis.

Types

In most cases, infection occurs in a distant part of the body and then travels to the brain or spinal cord membrane area through the bloodstream. It can also spread through more direct routes such as the sinus cavities or the ear. Both viral and bacterial meningitis have similar symptoms. Viral meningitis is more common among children and teens and can be fairly mild. Meningitis caused by bacterial infections can produce medical emergencies and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms

While symptoms are similar, the severity of such symptoms often provides the first clue as to whether the meningitis infection is bacterial or viral in nature. Some common symptoms include nausea, fever, headache, sensitivity to light and a stiff neck. Viral meningitis symptoms often clear up on their own within a week, but bacterial meningitis symptoms may occur within several hours and are comparatively severe in nature. For example, strong neck pain and stiffness, as well as difficulty in lowering the chin to the chest, indicate that symptoms are bacterial in nature. Sometimes confusion and unconsciousness are rapid onset symptoms and may result in death if not treated promptly. It is very important to go for immediate medical help for a patient suffering from such conditions.

Some of the most common symptoms of meningitis include:

• Severe headache
• Back ache
• Neck ache
• Pain in the eyes, especially around light
• Nausea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Sleepiness, lethargy and fatigue

Causes/Risk Factors

Both viral and bacterial meningitis is contagious and can spread through germs, sneezing, coughing and inadequate personal hygiene. It can also spread through eating or cooking in utensils that have not been cleaned well or sterilized.

Enteroviruses, which are (+)ssRNA viruses are responsible for causing enteroviral meningitis.

Meningitis and pregnancy can be a dangerous combination since the condition can cause additional stress on the mother's body.

Tests/Diagnosis

Anyone, suffering from viral or bacterial meningitis shouldn't wait for symptoms to disappear or grow worse. Contact your doctor or local hospital immediately. Although symptoms are the first step of diagnosis, doctors may carry out lumbar punctures to check the spinal fluid for other bacterial or viral infections. Based on the diagnosis, antibiotics are prescribed to the patient for fast and better cure.

Treatment

Viral meningitis does not usually require medical treatment, but bacterial meningitis requires immediate treatment with antibiotics that are given intravenously. Immunization has reduced the number of attacks caused by bacterial meningitis, but those who are already sick and have weaker immune systems, as well as the elderly, are particularly susceptible to the condition.