Bacterial Meningitis Immunizations

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, membranes that surround the brain. This can extend as far as infecting the cerebral spinal fluid on top of causing the tissue to swell. Meningitis comes in two major forms; bacterially and virally. However, having bacterial meningitis is much more severe than viral meningitis. There is a lot more danger in having a bacterial infection within the brain than a viral infection within the brain. What makes bacterial meningitis so lethal is that “even when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate treatment is started, 5% to 10% of patients die, typically within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Left untreated, up to 50% of cases may die, (6) or there

Meningococcal disease is a large concern in the medical field because it is unbiased towards the patients it infects. There has been limited success in trying to eliminate this disease. Antibiotics play a role in helping to treat patients with bacterial meningitis, and steroids have been tested to help reduce risk factors. Prevention has also become a key issue because meningitis can only be spread through direct contact with infected body fluid. The best prevention is to maintain clean hygiene. Vaccines are another way of preventing disease. However, there are multiple serogroups of meningitis that makes creating a universal vaccine extremely difficult. So far, there have only been two

The major disease that I have chosen is meningitis. According to Hales, “meningitis is an extremely serious, potentially fatal illness that attacks the membranes around the brain and spinal cord; caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitis” (2016, p.305). Bacterial meningitis symptoms develop within hours, and viral meningitis symptoms develop quickly or over several days. The most common symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, disorientation, drowsiness, and reddish or brownish skin rash. Vaccination is recommended for all American adolescents, with initial immunization at age 11 or 12 and a booster at age 16. The CDC recommends routine vaccination with a new type of meningococcal vaccine, which

Meningococcal Meningitis is the infection and inflammation of the meninges. Newborns and infants are at greatest risk for contracting bacterial meningitis with Neisseria meningitides being the typical pathogen in the majority of children age 2 months through 12 years (London, Ladewig, Ball, Bindler, & Cowen, 2011). There is a mortality rate of 10% for children who develop meningitis from this particular bacterium (Muller, 2013).

A vaccine by definition is a biological advancement that helps keep you immune from a disease. The history of vaccine did not start in 1796 like most think. Vaccines have actually been around for centuries. There is evidence that Chinese Empires had vaccines around 1000 CE, but these vaccines were nothing like what is around today. Edward Jenner made the first modern day vaccine in 1796. Jenner experimented on a boy and came to the conclusion that if he was injected with cowpox and than exposed to small pox that the boy would become immune. Even though his work did not immediately kill out the disease, Jenner inspired other scientists to find out more about vaccines. There are many ways to make a modern day vaccine. First, they take the virus or bacteria and they grow it in a lab. Next they isolate the disease away from the lab materials, which made it grow. Than, they purify the disease, which weakens it. Also, an adjuvant may be added to help the immune system fight off the disease. Finally, everything is mixed up and is shipped out to its final destination. Vaccines contain different ingredients based on the vaccine but normally the ingredients include, weakened parts of viruses, Aluminum, antibiotics, formaldehyde, adjuvants, proteins, sugars, and preservatives. Vaccines help immunize the body because when the weakened disease is put into the body, the body makes antibodies to fight off the disease. If the real disease ever came into the body, the body would be able to

My perspective is two-fold. I believe that UAA should not require that all freshman have the meningococcal vaccine prior to registration, but I do think that it should be a strong recommendation for those who choose to reside in the on-campus housing. After doing research, I found this is the current state of things at the university (“What are the immunization requirements at UAA?” n.d.).

I totally agree with you, meningitis b vaccine should be available for all America population the vaccine could possibly protect people against manganism b but we have to know that there different types b bacteria that cause illness and it’s tough to produce a universal vaccine that would cover strains circulating in different parts of the world. The vaccine that is being used in Europe and Australia is about 70% effective and I think that it could protect against meningitis.

A vaccine is an antibiotic that allows your immune system to grow stronger and “immune” by producing excess antibodies specifically for that disease allowing your body to fight against the disease better. Vaccines are created through taking the disease and putting it through a series of processes where the virus is weakened to a certain state that it does minimal damage to your body when injected. This process is put into 5 steps by originally creating the antigen, next they release the antigen and put it through a step where the isolate it from human growth protein, the third step is where they purify the disease. The fourth step is strengthening the antigen, and finally distributes the final product to the public for mass protection. The vaccines contain the disease themselves but in weakened state to prevent the disease from physically and chemically damaging your body. Back in 1796 Edward Jenner found immunity for small pox though the “use of cowpox material to create immunity to smallpox, quickly made the practice widespread. His method underwent medical and technological changes over the next 200 years, and eventually resulted in the eradication of smallpox.” (“Vaccine Timeline," n.d.) By 1885 the rabies vaccine was cured through a shot created by Louis Pasteur. This opened a whole new window for the idea of vaccines into society. Throughout time vaccines have been being perfected and have expanded their range to hundred of diseases and even some non-infectious

Meningitis is associated several unpleasant symptom such as fever, vomiting, headache, limb pain, and neck stiffness(Refernce). The severity of symptom varies according to the type of pathogen , duration of illness and the age of child( feign1992 ). .According to the recent evidence based reports, Suspected bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency, and immediate diagnostic steps must be taken to establish the specific cause so that appropriate antimicrobial therapy can be initiated. The mortality rate of untreated bacterial meningitis approaches 100 percent and, even with optimal therapy, morbidity and mortality may occur. Neurologic sequelae are common among survivors.meningities is considered as medical emergency required Now, of course, the admission to hospital can be unpleasant for the child and the use of antibiotics itself might cause some adverse effect. However, the illness syndrome and complications results in much more suffering over a longer duration than does the

Depending on the type of meningitis, there are many types of treatments. Bacterial meningitis, for example, must be treated immediately with venous antibiotics and corticosteroids. These helps to ensure recovery and reduce the risk of complications. (1) Potential complications include hydrocephalus, blindness, arthritis, myocarditis, pericarditis, and cognitive.

Several vaccines are available to immunize against meningococcus, including polysaccharide and conjugate vaccine technologies. Available vaccines include the tetravalent vaccine, which protects against

Throughout history in the United States, various epidemics have had their adverse effects amongst the population. Yet, those who fall particularly vulnerable to such epidemics are those whom are often young and have yet to build proper immunity to foreign invaders. One of the most feared diseases for children and young adults today is Bacterial Meningitis. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Meningitis can be formed through the inflammation of the meninges in an individual’s brain (2014). Although there are numerous causes for Meningitis, Bacterial Meningitis is the most severe and often deadly strain in which greatly effects children and young adults (CDC, 2014). Furthermore, the prevalence of meningitis continues to

Bacterial meningitis is the inflammation of the meninge layers of the central nervous system (the pia matter, arachnoid matter, and the dura matter). This disease in most cases is caused by these five microbes:

There was an outbreak at Baylor University with 9 patients to be suspected to be victims of the outbreak. Sue, Jill, Maggie, Wanda, Marco, Alvin, Anthony, Arnie, Maria are the 9 patients. They have gone to the doctor with similar symptoms of aches and pains, and outrageous fevers.

Great discussion here. As Greg correctly pointed out, there is no right or wrong answer. But I have to say that I would be more tempted to read an article that leads with an impacting story or information, such as that healthy teenagers can succumb to meningococcal meningitis in a matter of days, or that meningitis is a potentially deadly disease that affects x number of people each year, than an article that leads with information about what a company has been doing to raise awareness about the disease. I believe that the risk that the disease imposes would resonate more with readers, especially mothers, leading them to want to learn more what to do to prevent it.