Meningitis Vaccination Analysis

Meningitis is a contagious infection of the cerebrospinal fluid and inflammation of the meninges, the nearby membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain. Both the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid serve as protectors

Viral meningitis is more common, but not nearly as severe (8). It is hardly ever fatal and mostly caused by enteroviruses. Other viruses can induce a person to contract viral meningitis. These include: mumps, herpes, measles, and varicella-zoster. Even an infection from a mosquito bite could potentially turn into a case of viral meningitis (4)! Fungal meningitis, which can also be deadly, is mostly caused by Cryptococcus and Candida. The people affected with fungal meningitis are mostly those who have an inadequate immune system (3).

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and fluid that surrounds a person’s brain. It is sometimes referred to as Spinal Meningitis. It’s usually caused by either a bacterial or viral infection. As you read through this paper you will learn how Meningitis is transmitted, its symptoms, its effects, and even the incidences it has caused.

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]

This condition is most commonly caused by a viral infection (less threatening), although bacteria and fungal infections as well as toxins or parasites can also lead to meningitis (McCance & Huether, 609). The type of treatment depends on the causative agent; meningitis may go away on its own or require treatment with antibiotics. Clinical manifestations of meningitis, according to the textbook are as follows: inflammation and irritation- generalized meningeal signs, throbbing headache, photophobia (light sensitivity); local tissue dysfunction- cranial nerve palsies, focal neurologic deficits (hemiparesis/hemiplegia, ataxia), and seizures; mass effect- decreased level of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and increased intracranial pressure; and lastly, vascular compromise (McCance and Huether, 612). Systematic effects of this condition are increased intracranial pressure (ICP), disruption of the blood brain barrier (a defense mechanism) which can exacerbate infection, interference or blockage of CSF (cerebral spinal fluid), cerebral edema, intracranial hypertension and decreased cranial blood flow. If the condition gets too serious, paralysis, hearing loss, ataxia (loss of muscle coordination, mainly in the extremities), cerebral atrophy, and hydrocephalus (“water

Meningococcal Meningitis is a dangerous bacterial infection that has taken the lives of many people since it has been discovered. This particular form of meningitis can be detected by symptoms that someone experiences and can also sometimes be treated. There are now methods of prevention in order to try to avoid outbreaks from occurring. This blood borne pathogen is extremely dangerous and can greatly damage someone’s life.

The meningococcal vaccine is recommended for “College freshman living in dormitories” by the CDC Vaccine Information Statement for meningococcal ACYW vaccines (2016), and also the American College Health Association (Section of Epidemiology, 2015, p. 2). Students living on campus in dorms are sharing the same living space, sleeping space, and all touching the same surfaces, all of which increase the risk for spreading any disease. As the Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet explains that “casual contact, such as being in the same classroom, workplace, or sitting at the same table with an infected person is not usually considered ‘close contact’” (Section of Epidemiology, 2015, p. 2).

There are many things in life that aren’t good for people’s health and that can cause for many human beings to die. Cancer of any kind, AIDS, pneumonia, meningitis and several other diseases or syndromes can be deadly or incurable. Vaccines and antibiotics are there to help people but won’t always cure it for sure to be 100% safe.Meningitis is a severe disease that humans can get at any age,but the symptoms can be different,(Anthony D. Harris, M.D., Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland.) meningitis happens when the membranes,also called meninges are infected that line and protect the fluid,brain,and the spinal cord.The history of meningitis,5 types of meningitis,,symptoms,side effects,and ways to prevent this frightening disease are all true facts but it isn’t something any human would want to have.

In a world of vaccinations and public healthcare, it is easy to forget that we are constantly surrounded by disease causing microbes. Throughout this unit we have studied the human bodies constant fight with microbes and what happens once they accumulate. In this paper I will discuss meningococcal meningitis, its disease causing microbe, how the bacterium enters and exits the body and, the symptoms caused by the bacterium. I will also discuss the impact this microbe has on human health and any treatments available.

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges of the brain and/or spinal cord. There are five types of meningitis: bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious. Meningitis is more often seen in children and acute bacterial meningitis can be fatal if not treated in the early stages. Five types of pathogens - E. coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Haemophilus influenza type b and group b streptococcus - have previously been reported as the top causes of meningitis. From January 2012 through December 2015, 3mL samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 179 children (120 males, 59 females) ranging in age from three days old to 12 years old, with acute bacterial meningitis, were tested and studied for antibiotic susceptibilities of CSF pathogens.

There are three different types of meningitis; viral, fungal, and bacterial meningitis. Although not as common as viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis is more likely to leave individuals with permanent disabilities. In children, disabilities can range from deafness, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy? the most common after effects. And in adults, septic shock, brain swelling, and hydrocephalus are most likely to occur if the disease advances without treatment within a sufficient time period. The three main bacteria responsible for bacterial meningitis are streptococcus pneumoniae, haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), and neisseria meningitidis.

The pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis is an infection of the bloodstream from an infected area or by commonly acquired through the respiratory system. Next, the bacteria gains access to the subarachnoid space. The body next responds with increased neutrophils to the subarachnoid space. Furthermore, “the release of cytotoxic inflammatory agents and bacterial toxins alter the blood-brain barrier and damage brain tissue (Huether & McCance, 2012)”. As a result, the meningeal vessels become engorged and gradually become permeable. “The cerebral spinal fluid is thicken by inflammatory exudate and inhibits normal cerebral spinal fluid circulation around the brain and spinal cord (Huether & McCance, 2012)”. Furthermore, arachnoid villi may become congested and produce an effect of the enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain. Increased intracranial pressure is experienced from the combination of thicken exudate and swollen meningeal cells. Engorged blood vessels and thrombi can disrupt blood flow, causing further injury.

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

Most common signs and symptoms are sudden fever, vomiting, nausea, and confusion. Ordinarily, bacterial meningitis ' symptoms are more severe than viral and fungal meningitis. It has different signs and symptoms in adults and children. In almost all cases, bacterial meningitis signs in adults are stiffness of the neck and severe headache. In children, symptoms include high fever, nausea, and loss of appetite. As mentioned earlier, bacterial meningitis is the most severe type of meningitis among other types, and if left untreated it has long lasting effects which are the worst case scenario. Untreated bacterial meningitis can lead to the paralysis, since it is affecting the cerebrospinal cord; brain damage, since the brain is one of the main organs that bacteria attack first, also it causes blindness. In case of paralysis, there is an inability to move muscles in the face or other nerve signs.

At least in the United States, bacterial meningitis is declining as a public health issue. However, that being said it still is a serious medical condition that continues to have the potential of high mortality and morbidity. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, medically called the meninges. This inflammation may be caused by virus, bacteria, certain microorganisms, and even by certain drugs. The reason it is so serious is due to the proximity to the brain and spinal cord, which causes the condition to remain a serious medical emergency (Bamberger, 2010).