Meningitis that occurs in meninges is called meningitis. It is also known as brain fever. The meninges are three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord<\/a>. Meningitis may occur when fluids located around meninges become infected.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many types of this disease, which can be bacterial, viral, and fungal.<\/span><\/p>\n Bacterial meningitis<\/strong> can be severe and can spread when people come in close contact with each other. Viral meningitis is less acute, and most people recovers completely without treatment. Fungal meningitis is a very rare form of the disease. It generally occurs in people who have weak immunity.<\/span><\/p>\n Inflammation during meningitis usually aggravates symptoms such as headaches, fever, and stiff neck.<\/span><\/p>\n Some patients with encephalitis recover within a few weeks without treatment. Other patients may have severe conditions and require immediate antibiotic treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n If you find that a person is suffering from meningitis<\/strong>, get him treated immediately. Serious complications can be prevented by timely treatment of bacterial meningitis.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the research by World Health Organization (WHO), over one million suspected cases of meningitis have been reported in the last 2 decades, and more than 100,000 people have died so far.<\/span><\/p>\n Even after identifying the disease within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms and starting adequate treatment, five to ten percent of people are unable to struggle with the disease. If left untreated, about 50 percent of the patients may die.<\/span><\/p>\n Click Here To Read: 40 Interesting Phobia Facts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Viral & bacterial infections are the most common causes of meningitis. There are various other types of this too –<\/span><\/p>\n Bacterial meningitis develops immediately within a few hours and can cause permanent disability or death. Most deaths occur within 24?48 hours of the onset of symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n Most bacterial meningitis is caused by Neisseria meningitis (meningococcus), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus), and Haemophilus influenza type B (HIB).<\/span><\/p>\n The most common type of meningitis is viral meningitis & is usually less severe. Most of the patients recover without any permanent damage, although it may take several weeks or months to recover fully.<\/span><\/p>\n Many types of viruses can cause meningitis & are usually spread through coughing sneezing or fecal contamination. The most common group ‘enterovirus’ resides in the respiratory and intestinal tract and can cause colds and sore throat with fever, headache, and muscle aches. It periodically spreads into enteroviruses, meninges and causes meningitis.<\/span><\/p>\n The Fungal meningitis can be severe, but it is rarely seen. Fungal meningitis is not contagious & spreads by inhaling fungal spores from the environment. This disease mostly occurs in people who are suffering from AIDS or whose immunity is weak.<\/span><\/p>\n Meningitis can also be spread by other means, including parasitic or non-infectious medium, such as – cancer, lupus, some medications, head injuries, brain surgery, or the current condition of the skull or spine.<\/span><\/p>\n Approximately 25% of encephalitis patients<\/a> develop symptoms of encephalitis in more than 24 hours. The rest usually become ill in one to seven days. <\/span><\/p>\n If antibiotics are being taken for another infection, the symptoms may take longer to develop or may have a reduced effect. If a person is developing fungal meningitis (usually HIV positive), the symptoms may take several weeks to progress.<\/span><\/p>\n The main symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, and neck numbness. These three primary symptoms are found in about 45% of the people. However, almost all of its patients have at least one symptom.<\/span><\/p>\n Main characteristics:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Less seen symptoms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Click Here To Read: 50 Interesting Sleep Facts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The most common cause of meningitis is a viral infection. This is followed by bacterial infections, and the rarest cause is a fungal infection. Since bacterial infection can be serious, identification of its cause is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n Bacteria enter our bloodstream and reach the brain and spinal cord and cause acute bacterial meningitis. But this can also happen when bacteria directly attack meninges.<\/span><\/p>\n It may be due to ear or sinus infection, skull fracture, or some surgery. Several strains of bacteria (Strains) can cause acute bacterial meningitis. These bacteria are –<\/span><\/p>\n This bacterium is a common cause of bacterial meningitis in adolescents, infants, and adults. It usually causes pneumonia, ear, or sinus infection. A vaccine can help prevent this infection.<\/span><\/p>\n This bacterium is another major cause of bacterial meningitis. These bacteria generally cause upper respiratory infection, but upon entering the bloodstream, meningococcal can cause meningitis.<\/span><\/p>\n It is highly contagious and mainly affects teenagers<\/a> and older people. This can spread the local epidemic to college hostels, boarding schools, and homes built for soldiers. Its vaccine can help prevent infection.<\/span><\/p>\n Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib)<\/strong> bacteria used to be the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. Still, cases have been reduced to a great extent by new HIB vaccines.<\/span><\/p>\n Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) –<\/strong> These bacteria can be found in cheese, hot dogs, and meat made from boiled milk. Pregnant women, newborns, older persons, and people with weakened immune systems have the highest chances of infection with these bacteria.<\/span><\/p>\n Viral meningitis is usually less severe and often resolves on its own. For most cases of viral meningitis, a group of ‘entero virus’ viruses are responsible, most common in late summer and early autumn. Viral meningitis can also spread due to HIV, herpes simplex virus, mumps, West Nile virus, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n Slow-growth organisms (such as fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) invade the membranes and fluids around your brain and cause chronic meningitis. <\/span><\/p>\n Chronic meningitis develops in two weeks or longer. Its symptoms are – headache, fever, vomiting, and mental disturbance. These symptoms are very similar to acute meningitis.<\/span><\/p>\n Fungal meningitis is found less & causes chronic meningitis. It can be similar to acute bacterial meningitis. This diseases, fungal meningitis is not transmitted from one person to another. <\/span><\/p>\n Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal type of disease<\/strong> that affects people with a weak immune system. If it is not treated by antifungal medicine, it can prove to be dangerous for the life of patient.<\/span><\/p>\n Click Here To Read: 10 Ways To Be A Good Mother<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Meningitis can also be caused by non-communicable causes, such as allergies to drugs, chemical reactions, certain cancers, and inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis.<\/span><\/p>\n Prevention:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Common bacteria or viruses that cause encephalitis can be spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing dishes, cigarettes, or toothbrush.<\/span><\/p>\n The following steps can be taken to prevent meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Carefully washing your hands helps prevent germs. In children, make a habit of washing hands before eating and after using the toilet, in a crowded place or after spending time with pets. Teach them to wash their hands thoroughly.<\/span><\/p>\n Do not share drinks, food, straws, food utensils, lip cream, or toothbrushes with anyone. Instruct children and adolescents not to share their personal hygiene items.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep your immune system healthy by taking adequate rest, regular exercise, and a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.<\/span><\/p>\n Cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief while sneezing or coughing.<\/span><\/p>\n Cooking hot dogs, and soft meat at 165 F (74 C) can reduce the risk of ‘listeriosis.’ Avoid eating paneer made of boiled milk. Eat cheese made from pasteurized milk.<\/span>?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The following vaccination can prevent some bacterial meningitis –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In the United States, vaccines that are routinely administered to children include ‘Haemophilus influenza type B,’ which are administered to children from about two months of age.<\/span><\/p>\n This vaccine is also recommended for some adults who are suffering from sickle cell disease<\/a> or AIDS and who do not have a spleen.<\/span><\/p>\n This vaccine is also part of a routine vaccination program for children under two years of age in the United States. Additional doses of the vaccine are recommended for children between 2 and 5 years of age who are at risk of pneumococcal.<\/span><\/p>\nPrevalence of Meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Types of meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Bacterial Meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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Viral Meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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Fungal Meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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Other Types of Meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Meningitis Symptoms<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis in adults?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Meningitis Causes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Causes of meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Bacterial meningitis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Streptococcus pneumonia (Pneumococcus)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Haemophilus influenza<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Viral meningitis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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Chronic meningitis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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Fungal meningitis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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Other causes of meningitis<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Prevention of Meningitis?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Wash your hands:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Adopt good hygiene habits:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Stay healthy:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Cover your mouth:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
If you are pregnant, take care of food:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Immunizations:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13):<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23):<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n