Bacterial Meningitis Symptoms

In addition, the CDC recommends certain vaccinations for teens and college students that attend school as a means to curtail the spread of highly communicable diseases such as meningitis.

Two common immunizations that adults receive are the influenza and the pneumonia vaccine. That is a drop in the bucket compared to children. Children receive more than 10 immunizations, and many of them are a series of shots (Ricci, 2013). Some of the immunizations received as a child are the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Dtap (Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), Rotavirus, and multiple others (Ricci, 2013). The reason for these immunizations is to create an immunity from certain diseases that can be life-altering and potentially fatal. There are multiple types of immunity a person can

Bacterial Meningitis affects the nervous system by causing inflammation of a trio of membranes known as the Meninges that are situated around the brain and spinal cord. It 's a disease that is slowly but surely being defeated worldwide with mortality rates falling from 464,000 deaths in 1990 to 303,000 in 2013[3]. Common symptoms throughout the period of an infection include; headaches, vomiting, fever, neck stiffness and an altered mental state. The severity of symptoms can depend on the species of bacteria that caused the infection. Due to recent medical advancements the rates of mortality have fallen considerably in the developed world, however meningitis is still prevalent in less economically developed countries. In this document I will be describing the various inner workings of the disease, but more specifically, it 's pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and preventative methods, furthermore I shall also be focusing more on the prevalence of the disease in the UK, as opposed to other locations. [1]

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).

Variety of agents can cause bacterial meningitis. Since the introduction of new vaccine (Hib and PCV7), the pathogens responsible have changed. Presently, S. pneumaniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children between 3 months and 19 years of age and Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause in children between 10 and 19 years. The causative pathogen differs in children between 1 and 3 months. The leading cause of neonatal meningitis is group B streptococci about 39% and gram negative bacilli 32% (Nigrovic, Kupperman, and Malley, 2008)

Some forms of meningitis (such as those associated with meningococci, haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococci or mumps virus infections) may be prevented by immunization.

Enteroviruses are present in the fetus, mucus, and saliva of infected people (Bennington 3). The viruses or organisms reach the meninges from foci in the body via blood or lymph, through trauma, or from adjacent bony structures such as the sinuses (Thomas 1027). Meningitis has harmful symptoms such as irregular fever, loss appetite, intense headache, constipation, intolerance to light and sound, contacted pupils, delirium, retraction of head, convulsion, and coma (Thomas 1027). Bacterial meningitis requires an individual to be hospitalized. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent brain damage and even death. Bacterial meningitis is threated with strict antibiotic therapy, such as ampicillin, penicillin G, Chloramphenicol, kanamycin, and gentamicin following strict isolation techniques (Thomas 1027). Those are the drugs of choice if the organisms susceptible. Supportive symptomatic therapy is also indicative (1027). According to the Taber' Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary, there must be a dark, quiet atmosphere, analgesic must be applied, and a cool compression to forehead

Prognosis wise, early treatment dramatically increases survival rates; as statistics disclose that 10-15% of Meningococcal victims die – with reports adamant that young children and adults over 50 have an increased chance of death (NMA, 2014). Medical attention must be sort to immediately as soon as Meningococcal symptoms arise so that blood samples can be made. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that “diagnosis is usually made by growing bacteria from a sample of blood or spinal fluid” – the Lumbar puncture technique. If the bacterium is found in samples, antibiotics are usually a preliminary option of treatment. Antibiotics, which are not usually employed to viral or fungal infections, aim to deter the impact of bacterial infections (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2007). Vaccinations of Meningococcal are dependent on its comparative strain; there are 13 strains of Meningococcal globally. In Australia the most prominent is strain B. B vaccine Bexsero is prescribed to combat the effects of Meningococcal but is also used a preventative measure for immunisation purposes (Australian Department of Health, 2015). However, the B vaccine Bexsero and other antibiotics may prove to be ineffective if administered after the pathogens have damaged the brain and spinal cord (CDC, 2015). Conversely, prevention is far more straight forward: avoid

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

There are currently a variety of vaccinations that are being tested and/or used throughout the world, although they are rarely used in the United States (Kupferschmidt, 2011). There are several research centers across the nation that are taking part of the research and development of these new vaccines including Harvard University and the University of California, Los Angeles (Kupferschmidt, 2011). These vaccinations are of great importance to some individuals, but its use is not perfect across all samples (Kupferschmidt, 2011).

Meningitis - the root “mening” is derived from the Greek Language which means membrane and the medical suffix “itis” means inflammation – is defined as a relatively rare disease caused by the acute inflammation of the protective membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord known as the “meninges”. The meninges which consist of three layers can be inflamed by many infectious pathogens, microorganisms, other living organisms such as fungi and non-infectious conditions that fortunately have many treatment options that can cure meningitis completely.

Third is meningococcal meningitis which is according children health (2015) that it is a rare but serious infection that can cause the membranes that covers the brain and the spinal cord to swell and inflamed. Each year, approximately 1000 people in the United States get meningitis disease which includes meningitis and septicemia which is a blood infection. Additionally, this disease can be fatal or can cause great harm without prompt treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control or CDC, almost 15 percent of those who survive and recover are left with disabilities, including the deafness, brain damage, and neurological or brain deficiencies or problems. Rosenstein,N.E., Perkins, B. A., Stephens, D. S., Popovic, T., & Hughes, J. M.

Bacterial meningitis is really serious infection and it must be treated immediately. This infection affects the membranes that cover the brain. Many bacteria could cause meningitis. The most common are Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcuspneumoniae. Luckily, there are special vaccines for preventing this bacteria in the human organism and they are recommended for both, children and adults when there is potential risk of this illness. Some studies have shown that certain group of people has bigger chances to be infected by this bacteria. Those usually are: children under the age of 6, teenagers between 15 and 18 years old and adults over 55 years old. The first symptoms are usually high fever, cold hands and feet, weakness, headache, neck

Recurrent bacterial meningitis is a relatively rare condition. The estimated incidence is 4–9% of patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis. Recurrent cases are often associated with craniopharyngeal structural damage caused by previous trauma, surgical procedure, or immunocompromised state.1

Based on the symptoms presented by the roommate, it is likely that she is suffering from bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges surrounding the spinal cord, specifically the arachnoid mater and the Pia mater, due to a bacterial infection. This illness typically first displays as a mild headache, fever, nausea, and drowsiness. As it grows more severe, symptoms may progress to photophobia, or intolerance to light, and neck stiffness, often referred to as the Kernig sign (Drake, Vogl, & Mitchell, 2012b). The pain Kernig sign is caused by the sensitivity that inflammation in the meninges creates. During flexion of the spine, the meninges stretch, causing pain and discomfort for the patient (Montgomery, n.d.).