Meningitis, a potentially fatal condition, is the inflammation of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection, and produces symptoms such as severe headache, stiff neck and fever. Depending on the cause, the overall health of the patient, and whether or not complications develop, meningitis can be a life-threatening emergency or can be resolved without medical intervention.
Significance
Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency. Up to 30 percent of newborns and up to 37 percent of adults die as a result of bacterial meningitis and related complications. The risk of death varies depending on the specific pathogen responsible for the infection and the amount of time the pathogen takes to clear from the cerebrospinal fluid. Other factors that increase the risk of mortality include the severity of illness and abnormally low white blood cell counts. Meningitis can result in permanent disability, especially in children, including hearing loss, epilepsy, decreased intelligence or cognitive impairment, and behavioral difficulties. Bacterial meningitis affects approximately 3 out of every 100,000 people in Western countries, and viral meningitis occurs in nearly 11 out of every 100,000. This makes meningitis a significant health threat across all age groups.
Features
The features of meningitis vary depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the infection, but most people experience headache, stiff neck, fever, altered consciousness, and photophobia. Phonophobia, or an inability to tolerate loud noises, is also a common symptom. Meningitis may cause less specific symptoms in young children, such as irritability, cold extremities, leg pain, and drowsiness, and infants may suffer from a bulging fontanelle, or soft spot. Meningococcus meningitis may present with a characteristic rash that consists of small, non-blanching purple or red spots called petechiae. The rash may spread rapidly and typically affects the lower extremities, the trunk, mucous membranes, eyes and palms of the hands. Doctors may look for other signs during evaluation, such as an inability to flex the neck forward, known as nuchal rigidity and a positive Brudzinski's sign or Kernig's sign. Both of these signs point toward improper muscle extension and flexion.
Types
There are two primary types of meningitis: bacterial meningitis, which can result in brain damage or death, and viral meningitis, which is more common but typically does not result in serious illness. Infection by fungi and parasites can also result in meningitis. Aseptic meningitis is a term used to refer to cases of meningitis in which no source of infection can be found. This type of meningitis is generally caused by a virus or bacteria that has already been treated and has disappeared from the meninges, escaping detection. Non-infectious meningitis may be caused by cancer, certain medications such as NSAIDs and antibiotics, and inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis. Systemic lupus erythematosus and some forms of vasculitis have also been linked to meningitis.
Prevention/Solution
Some forms of meningitis can be prevented through good hygiene and vaccination. Immunization against chickenpox, measles, Haemophilus influenzae type "B" and pneumococcal infection is crucial to decreasing the risk of developing meningitis. Another vaccine is available to protect against meningococcal meningitis, which is especially common in children and teens. Anyone at risk for contracting the illnesses commonly associated with meningitis, including the very young and very old, those with weakened immune systems, those who live in cramped living conditions, people with HIV and anyone planning to travel to a country currently experiencing a meningitis outbreak, should be vaccinated. Because some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious, good hygiene is essential. Meningitis cannot be contracted through regular contact, such as shaking hands, and requires contact with respiratory secretions through coughing or kissing. Treatment of meningitis depends on the cause and severity of the illness. Viral meningitis typically lasts only a couple of weeks and can be treated at home. Bacterial meningitis requires treatment in a hospital, and may include IV antibiotics and supportive measures to reduce the risk of permanent disability or death.
Warning
Medical attention must be sought at the first indication of meningitis, regardless of the apparent severity of symptoms. If meningitis is not treated promptly, the effects can be devastating. Early treatment with antibiotics and sometimes antiviral medications may mean the difference between a full recovery and permanent disability or death. Meningitis can lead to long-term health problems and disabilities, including epilepsy, deafness, cognitive impairment and hydrocephalus. The infection may also result in sepsis, a state of shock that causes rapid heart rate, falling blood pressure, elevated or abnormally low temperature and impaired breathing. Sepsis may limit the ability of blood to reach various organs of the body, resulting in a lasting illness or death. Gangrene, blindness, encephalitis, weakness, loss of mobility, cerebral vasculitis and cerebral venous thrombosis may all develop as complications of untreated meningitis.
Tags: meningitis which, permanent disability, also result, bacterial meningitis, Bacterial meningitis