Meningitis Essay

The first recorded Meningitis epidemic occurred in Geneva in 1805, and shortly afterward several other outbreaks in Europe and the United States were recorded as well. Then, thirty-five years later, the first outbreak in Africa was recorded. The African Meningitis outbreaks became much more common in the 20th century. News Medical stated that “The first major epidemic was reported in Nigeria and Ghana from 1905-1908.” In the earliest reports, large numbers of people died from this disease. The first

1. Explain the pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis Bacterial meningitis is an acute inflammation of the meninges and the CFS. The introduction of antimicrobial therapy has had a manifest result on the progress of the prognosis. The introduction of the vaccine against Haemophilus influenza type B, Hib vaccine and streptococcus pneumoniae has steered to huge changes in the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis. The inflammatory response to the infection tends to increase CSF production with a moderate

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). N. meningitides bacterium responsible for outbreaks in densely populated

Pathophysiology of Meningitis and Encephalitis Meningitis and encephalitis are two similar infections of the central nervous system that often lead to fatality of the host organism. Both diseases occur when pathogens enter the blood stream and gain access into the central nervous system. Stimulating inflammation within the cranial cavity, the pathogens continue to multiply and take harmful effects on the host. Inflammation, the body’s response to infection, ultimately causes all of the symptoms

The four most common causes of bacterial meningitis come from Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitides, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and Listeria monocytogenes. S. pneumoniae has been the study of scientist for the past century striving for both clinical and basic scientific discovery. In 1881 Louis Pasteur used the saliva of an infected child and injected it into rabbits identifying slightly elongated diplococcic (Smith 2012). S. pneumoniae is a gram positive, facultative anaerobe

5 Important Things to Know About Meningococcal Meningitis Meningococcal Meningitis is a serious illness that infects the thin lining, which encircles the spinal cord and brain. It could also affect the bloodstream (bacteremia or septicemia). It is a bacterial form of meningitis that spreads through transmission of respiratory droplets, such as coughing, sneezing, spiting, and kissing. This could only affect humans as no animal has been reported of the condition. The bacteria can be carried through

1. 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

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 particular form of meningitis called Meningococcal Meningitis is an infection

patient, they all seem to lead in the direction of meningitis. Meningitis, however, needs a puncture in the lumbar region to completely be diagnosed (spinal tap). This puncture will take cerebrospinal fluid and test to reveal the white blood cell count which the majority will be neutrophils and also show low glucose levels, increased protein levels, high CSF opening pressure, a culture and a gram stain to show the cause of the infection. Meningitis is most commonly shown as a bacteria infection, but

The diagnosis most likely will be Neisseria meningitidis induced meningitis. Bacteria and virus are the two-main cause of meningitis. The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcal, causes meningococcal meningitis. Meningitis is a disease that attacks the meninges. It travels around the body to reach these protective layers, also surrounds the brain and spinal cord and protects the central nervous system (CNS), together with the cerebrospinal fluid. It attacks the body’s phages,