N. Meningitis Research Paper

About 10 to 25% of the human population carry N.meningitidis in their respiratory system at any time yet only few develop meningococcal disease. As one of the contagious bacteria, N. Meningitidis are transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets of respiratory secretions from carriers. The pathogen can get spread by having close and prolonged contact (e.g. kissing, sharing eating or drinking) with the carriers. Incubation period is between two to ten days and invasive infections can happen within 14 days after acquisition. Meningococcal diseases have the highest incidence during late winter and early

Common symptoms that occur for both types include, fever, nausea, lack of energy, tiredness, confusion or disorientation, dizziness, irritability or agitation or a sore throat. Meningococcal meningitis symptoms include back ache, stiff or painful neck, sensitivity to light, twitching or convulsions, as well as a combination of common symptoms. Meningococcal septicemia symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, cold shivers, pain in muscles or joints, chest or abdomen pain, pale grey or blotchy skin, rapid breathing, diarrhea or a rash. The rash that is caused by Meningococcal septicemia is very distinctive. It first starts as either a spot, scratch, mark, blister, a faint pink rash or as red or purple pin pricks. It then progresses to the distinctive purple bruising. This distinctive rash can be a critical symptom of deadly septicemia and so it is therefore important not to wait until the rash appears before seeking medical treatment (Meningococcal Australia,

Neisseria meningitidis is found in people’s nose and throat of about 10 percent of the population. This bacteria can get into the blood and the brain and cause severe illness. When the bacteria is found in the blood it can cause sepsis, an infection. When it is found in the brain it can cause meningitis, which is the swelling of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Bacterial meningitis is the most common form of meningitis. Approximately 80% of all meningitis associated cases are bacterial, the disease is the critical reason for increasing morbidity rates in young children under the age group of one year. In the last 20 years (1991–2010) close to one million suspected meningitis cases were reported in the UK and in the US. [8] [5] The ‘meninges’ is the name for the three membranes that envelope the brain and cord (the central nervous system). Bacterial meningitis is caused by three different bacteria’s: Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. The bacteria spreads across the spinal cord and optic nerves, within the bacteria it 's fluid contents, the cerebrospinal fluid. The excessive manifestation of bacteria and their toxins within these areas, results in an inflammation of the cranial or spinal structures. This inflammation will consequence in severe damage to the nervous system and brain structures unless treated. Due to the nature of the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid, an infection of any area of the system can rapidly spread to the rest of the system In this review I will discuss the epidemiology and pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis in young children and its subsequent clinical diagnosis of effective vaccines.[2]

N. meningitides bacterium responsible for outbreaks in densely populated areas such as childcare centers, boarding schools, or college living areas (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010). These outbreaks are most common in winter and spring months when risk factors like upper respiratory infections are more likely (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010). Immunosuppression must be present for this pathogen to invade. Other risk factors for meningitis are otitis media (middle ear infection), mastoiditis (mastoid bone infection) (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010), systemic sepsis, sinusitis (sinus infection), basilar skull fractures, and the very young and the very old (Porth & Matfin, 2009).

Meningitis can be destructive without proper understanding of what it is caused by. There are three types of meningitis- bacterial, fungal, and viral. Contrasting factors tend to arise during a comparison of them. One of the most notable areas that viral, fungal and bacterial meningitis differ in are their treatment ability. However, they have the same general affects on the human body. In any case, there are tests that doctors can utilize in order to discover if the meningitis is bacterial, fungal, or viral.

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

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 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

Meningitis occurs when the meninges (a thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) shows inflammation (swelling). The meninges consist of three layers. They are the dura, arachnoid, and pia. The inflammation is caused by an infection that has penetrated the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. When this occurs the brain is now venerable to attack by bacteria, viruses, and others. As a result of these attack, the brain could have sustained damage which cannot be repaired. The inflammation in an enclosed space such as inside the skull or spinal also damages or kills healthy cells. There are five different types of meningitis. Those five types are viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious. Viral and bacterial are the two most common type of meningitis. This paper is about one type of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis is caused by a Neisseria meningitides also called meningococcus, which is a bacterium. Meningococcal meningitis is terminal if left untreated it can cause severe brain damage and about half of the time death would occur but with proper treatment potential and severe complications or even death could still be the outcome. Analyzing the etiology, transmission, symptoms, diagnosing, treatment, and prevention of meningococcal meningitis.

The bacteria Neisseria meningitides, commonly known as meningococcus, is an important cause of bacterial meningitis worldwide. There are 13 serotypes, however globally, most meningococcal disease is caused by serogroups A, B, C, W135 and Y. (NCIRS:2014) Serotypes have varied geographical distribution, with serotypes B and C predominant in Europe, North America and Australia. The disease is serious and in some cases can be life threatening. The disease can cause meningitis (inflammation of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, septicaemia, pneumonia, conjunctivitis and arthritis. (Australian Department of Health (ADOH:2014) This report is collated by the US Department of Health with the aim of identifying the categories of informational required to assess whether a meningoccaccal B vaccine should be included in the government funded National Immunization Program (Part 1). Part 2 will introduce the program evaluation of a case study of the MenB vaccine introduced in the US in a specific age group. Finally, this report will be submitted to the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group to make the final decision on whether the MenB vaccine will be included in the National Immunization Program. This decision will be included in the final section of the document.

Neisseria meningitides is a form of bacteria that infects the meninges of the brain, in which, affects the brain membrane. The meninges become edematous and affects cerebral spinal fluid. As a result, increased cerebral pressure is exhibited. This form of bacteria is “transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers (WHO, 2015)”. Examples of transmission is exhibited by close and prolonged

This type of meningitis has different symptoms for different age groups. In babies the symptoms are; fever, irritability, poor eating, sleepiness or have trouble waking up from sleep and lethargy. For adults, the symptoms are; fever, headaches, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright light, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite and lethargy.

Many people have heard about meningitis but they are not exactly sure what it is. According to the Center for Disease Control, Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is most common in children although, it can attack people of all ages. In 1805, “ Vieusseux first discovered Meningococcal meningitis during an outbreak in Switzerland, though it wasn’t until 1887 that the causative agent was identified by Anton Weichselbaum” (Manchanda 2006). The name given to it was Neisseria intracellularis due to the nature of the intracellular oval micrococci of the organism. The disease was fatal in 70 percent of the cases before the 1920s. There are over 10 different serotypes that cause infection. Common causes of meningitis vary by strain and age groups.

Some of the earliest signs and symptoms that come with Viral meningitis are having a headache, having neck stiffness, being sensitive to bright lights, nausea and vomiting, fever, and may even have trouble sleeping or waking up; those aren’t the only ones, some people may even develop a rash somewhere on their body. These symptoms are very similar to bacterial meningitis except that the outcome is more severe if not treated. A person who has contracted bacterial meningitis can people to have serious issues such as brain damage, loss of hearing and even learning disabilities. People who contract viral meningitis take about a week to 10 days to recover and it usually happens on it’s own.(Cleveland Clinic, 2016) A test to see if you 're suffering from meningitis is called The tumbler test. What you have to do is place a clear glass tumbler onto your skin firmly against the rash. If you can see the marks through the glass then it 's suggested to seek medical