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What is meningitis?
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Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and
spinal cord--also called the meninges. It can be caused
by viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Viral
(aseptic) meningitis is common; most people recover fully.
Medical management of viral meningitis consists of supportive
treatment and there is usually no indication for the use of
antibiotics. Parasitic and fungal meningitis are very
rare. Bacterial meningitis is very serious and may
involve complicated medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and
life support management.
There are two common types of bacteria that cause meningitis:
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Strep pneumoniae
caues pneumococcal meningitis; there are over 80 subtypes
that cause illness
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Neisseria meningitidis
- meningococcal meningitis; there are 5 subtypes that
cause serious illness - A, B, C, Y, W-135
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What are the symptoms?
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Someone with meningitis will become very ill. The
illness may develop over one or two days, but it can also
rapidly progress in a matter of hours. Not everyone with
meningitis will have the same symptoms.
Children (over 1 year old) and adults with meningitis may
have:
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Severe headache
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High temperature
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Vomiting
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Sensitivity to bright lights
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Neck stiffness, joint pains
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Drowsiness or confusion
*In both children and adults, there may be a rash of tiny,
red-purple spots or bruises caused by bleeding under the skin.
These can occur anywhere on the body. They are a sign of
blood poisoning (septicemia), which sometimes happens with
meningitis, particularly the meningococcal strain.
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How serious is bacterial meningitis?
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If
it is diagnosed early and treated promptly, the majority of
people make a complete recovery. In some cases it can be
fatal or a person may be left with a permanent disability,
such as deafness, blindness, amputations or brain damage
(resulting in mental retardation or paralysis) even with
prompt treatment.
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How is bacterial meningitis spread?
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Fortunately, none of the bacteria that causes meningitis are
as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu, and
they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing
the air where a person with meningitis has been. The
germs live naturally in the back of our noses and throats, but
they do not live for long outside the body. They are
spread when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing;
sharing drinking containers, utensils, or cigarettes).
The
germ does not cause meningitis in most people.
Instead, most people become carriers of the germ for days,
weeks or even months. Being a carrier helps to stimulate
you body's natural defense system. The bacteria rarely
overcomes the body's immune system and causes meningitis or
another serious illness.
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What is the risk of getting bacterial meningitis?
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The
risk of getting bacterial meningitis in all age groups is
about 2.4 cases per 100,000 population per year.
However, the highest risk group for the most serious form of
the disease, meningococcal meningitis, is highest among
children 2 to 8 years old.
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How is bacterial meningitis diagnosed?
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The
diagnosis is usually based on a combination of clinical
symptoms and laboratory results from spinal fluid and blood.
Spinal fluid is obtained by a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
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How can bacterial meningitis be prevented?
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Do
not share food, drinks, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes.
Limit the number of persons you kiss.
Vaccines against pneumococcal disease are recommended both for
young children and adults over 64. A vaccine against
four meningocccal serogroups (A, C, Y, W-135) is available.
These four groups cause the majority of meningococcal cases in
the United States. This vaccine is recommended by some
groups for college students, particularly freshmen living in
dorms or residence halls. The vaccine is safe and
effective (85-90%). It can cause mild side effects, such
as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two
days. Immunity develops within 7 to 10 days after the
vaccine is given and lasts for up to 5 years.
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What you should do if you think you or a friend might have bacterial meningitis?
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Seek prompt medical attention.
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For more information
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Your
school nurse, family doctor, and the staff at you local or
regional health department office are excellent sources for
information on all communicable diseases. You may also
call your local health department or Regional Texas Department
of Health office to ask about meningococcal vaccine.
Additional information may also be found at the web sites for
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
www.cdc.gov
and the Texas Department of Health:
www.tdh.state.tx.us.
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