Everything you need to know about meningitis

Meningitis is an infection that causes the swelling of the protective layers called the meninges. The meninges surround the spinal cord and the brain, and their function is to protect them. The severity of meningitis depends on the type of meningitis one is afflicted with. While some types of meningitis infections can go away on their own, other types can be so severe as to cause death.

How does one get meningitis?

• One can get meningitis from someone who has a trace of the meningitis virus. However, just because the person has the trace of the bacteria does not mean the person has meningitis.
• However, if someone is suffering from meningitis one does not need to be in direct contact with them in order to catch the infection. For example, meningitis causes include spread through saliva exchange as in the case of kissing.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

• The symptoms of meningitis depend on the person who has meningitis. At different stages of life, the person may exhibit different symptoms. However, some symptoms are similar in all stages.
• The symptoms of meningitis in babies include frequent irritability, fever, constant crying, the body is stiffer than usual, jaundice, flu, weakness, and diarrhea.
• The symptoms of meningitis in children include disorientation and inability to do things properly, fever, fatigue without being involved in physical activity, a stiffness of the body and neck area, weakness of limbs, and nausea.
• The symptoms of meningitis in adults include muscle pain, vomiting, a sudden appearance of rashes, contracting an autoimmune disorder, inability to remember, drowsiness, and inability to wake up.
• Note that meningitis can suddenly appear out of nowhere. It can be difficult to detect at first because the symptoms coincide with those of other diseases. However, if one feels that something has suddenly gone wrong with the body then it is a good time to go to the doctor. It is better late than sorry in the case of meningitis because delaying treatment can have serious repercussions.

What are the main causes of a meningitis infection in the country?

• The most common causes of meningitis in the country are related to bacteria. There are thousands of cases of bacterial meningitis in the country every year. Out of this, nearly a quarter of people die due to meningitis caused by some form of bacteria.
• The other causes of meningitis include viral and fungal infections. These infections usually start from other body parts like the throat and the ears.
• The other common causes of meningitis include drug allergies, cancer medicines, fungi, and chemical irritation.
• Some causes of meningitis can also be tuberculosis, syphilis, and autoimmune disorders.

What are the causes of bacterial meningitis?

• Bacterial meningitis is the result of bacteria that cause inflammation of the protective membrane of the brain and the spinal cord.
• The bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis are streptococcus pneumoniae, listeria monocytogenes (affects older adults as well as pregnant women), and neisseria meningitidis.
• Earlier, the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) caused meningitis in children and babies. The cases of bacterial meningitis due to this bacteria have decreased dramatically now, thanks to the vaccinations available for the same.

How can bacterial meningitis be treated?

• Bacterial meningitis can be treated with the help of antibiotics. The doctor may prescribe corticosteroids that help decrease the inflammation.
• It can also be treated by draining the infected areas. However, this depends on how severe a particular case is.
• Meningitis can become extremely severe in a short span of time, it is better to get treatment as soon as possible. If one sees even the slightest dip in health, it is time to go to the doctor.
• The doctor is the best person to tell which type of antibiotics one should have as it all depends on the bacterial causes of meningitis. More than one type of bacteria can cause meningitis which is why one should consult the doctor immediately.