Meningitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Meningitis is a rare disease, our brains have what is called a blood brain barrier that protects are brain for contamination by the blood. However, some infections can trick the barrier, which then decreases its ability to work properly.

Meningitis is a viral. It's means the cause is infection with a virus. Bacterial meningitis is quite rare but it can be very serious and needs urgent treatment with antibiotics. It is a inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. It is rarely occurs when an infection in the body spreads through the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid that cover the outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis is a serious medical problem because it is difficult to treat. Blood flows into the brain from the neck through a network of blood vessels. This network contains special cells that prevent many chemicals from passing into the brain. This system is known as the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier prevents harmful substances from getting into the brain. The blood-brain barrier "knows" which substances the brain needs and which will damage brain cells.

Although bacterial and fungal meningitis require extended hospitalization, meningitis caused by viruses can often be treated at home and has a much better outcome.

Bacterial meningitis

The most serious form of meningitis, bacterial meningitis, occurs in about 3,000-5,000 people in the United States every year.

Approximately 20%-25% of the time, even with treatment, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. If bacterial meningitis progresses rapidly, in 24 hours or less, death may occur in more than half of those who develop it, even with proper medical treatment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis, which may appear suddenly, often include high fever, severe and persistent headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. Changes in behavior, such as confusion, sleepiness, and difficulty waking up, are important symptoms. In infants, symptoms of meningitis are often much less specific and may include irritability or tiredness, poor feeding, and fever.

High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect, and the infant may only appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.

Treatment

If meningitis is suspected, medical advice should be sought immediately. Because some of the early symptoms might be similar to other conditions, a high level of suspicion is required, especially with children. Prevention is better than cure! Effective vaccines are now available against some types of meningitis.

Individuals with bacterial meningitis are hospitalised and treated with antibiotics given directly into a vein, in order to achieve the rapid high blood and tissue levels of antibiotic that this life-threatening condition requires.