Meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of fluids and membrane surrounding brain and spinal cord .
Meningitis affects people worldwide ,it a dangerous disease that may leave perment disabilities and it is even deadly disease.
Causes of meningitis
Meningitis is caused by different things ,pathogenic and non pathogens
Pathogenic causes including
1.bacteria such as streptococcus pneumoniae , Neisseria meningitis etc. ,
2.virus such as Coxsackrevirus A&B , echovirus etc...
3.Fungi such Cryptococcal meningitidis, Histoplasmosa
4.Parasites
Non Pathogenic Causes
1.cancer
2.Brain injury
3.Skull fractures
4.Lupus
5.etc...
Risk factors
1.Being child under 1year
2.People with weakened immunity
3.Travelling to countries where it endemic
4.College students
5.Military recruits
6.Unvaccinated people
7.People with Chronic disease such Diabetes ,cancer ,HIV/AIDS
8.Brain injury
Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis
Mild symptoms
1.Decreased appetite
2.Headache
3.Vomiting and nausea
4.skin rashes
5.Irritability
6.Fever
7.Diarrhea
Severe Symptoms
1.Respiratory problems
2.Stiff neck
3.Seizures
4.Altered mental status
5.Confusion
6.Urinary and stool incontinence
7.photophobia
8.Coma
Signs and symptoms of Meningitis in infants
1.Fever
2.Body and neck stiffness
3.inconsolable behaviour
4.Very sleepy and difficulty to wake up
5.Irritability
6.Unable to breastfeed
7.Coma
Vaccines in use
Currently there are 2 vaccines that are mostly used ,those vaccines are
1.Menimgococcal conjugate also known as MenACWY and Menactra.
2.Serogroup B Meningococcal vaccine
Side effects of vaccines
1.low grade fever
2.chills
3.headache
4.joint pain
5.feelin tired
6.Pain at injection site
Treatment of meningitis
Hospitalization
Patient is given IV medication and plenty of IV fluids
Medication according to causative agent s such antibiotics ,antiviral or antifungal
Management of signs and symptoms ,such as fever ,respiratory support etc..
Complications of meningitis
1.Seizures
2.Blindness
3.Hearing loss
4.Memory problems
5.Migraine headache
6.Severe brain damage
7.Hydrocephalus
8.Empyema
Tags:
Disease