Meningitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Meningitis is usually described as an infection and inflammation of the fluids and membranes which are surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Generally , these membranes in the brain are called meninges. Usually, that inflammation from meningitis usually triggers the symptoms like headache, fever and a stiff neck.

Most of the cases of meningitis are caused by a viral infection. But other factors like bacteria, parasites and fungi can also cause this meningitis. In rare cases, meningitis will improve without the treatment within a few weeks. Other cases will be fatal and it also requires emergency antibiotic treatment.

If you doubt that you or someone in your family has meningitis, you must seek immediate medical care. Early treatment for  bacterial meningitis, it will prevent serious complications.

The types of meningitis

Usually, the type of meningitis is usually named as by its cause or how long you had symptoms. They are 

• Bacterial meningitis.

• Viral meningitis.

• Fungal meningitis.

• Parasitic meningitis. This is usually caused by a certain parasites called eosinophilic meningitis or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis (EM).

• Primary Amebic Meningitis (PAM). This meningitis will be caused by the ameba Naegleria fowleri.

• Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM). In rare cases, if you take any medications, specific medications will cause drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM). The most common causes of DIAM are Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and antibiotics.

• Chronic meningitis.  If the meningitis has lasted a month or more than a long period, it’s usually called chronic meningitis.

• Acute meningitis. Usually, bacterial meningitis is an acute disease meaning that symptoms must be severe and it comes by suddenly.

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis might be similar to the flu. After several hours or over a few days of infection, symptoms may develop gradually.

Some possible symptoms of those who are older than the age of 2 years include:

• Sudden high fever.

• Heavy Stiff neck.

• Severe headache.

• Sudden Nausea or vomiting.

• Lots of Confusion or trouble concentrating.

• Sudden Seizures.

• More of Sleepiness or trouble waking.

• Sensitivity to bright light.

• No appetite or severe thirst.

• Skin rash in some cases

Signs in newborns

Newborns and infants may have these signs:

• Sudden high fever.

• Constant crying.

• More of being very sleepy or irritable.

• Sudden trouble waking from sleep.

• Being inactive or sluggish often.

• Not waking to eat.

• Poor feeding.

• Vomiting.

• Sudden bulge on top of the baby's head.

• Stiffness in the body and neck.

Newborns with meningitis will be hard to handle. If they are caught, babies cry harder.

Causes

Most common cause of meningitis is viral infections. Usually, that is followed by bacterial infections and rare cases of fungal and parasitic infections. But bacterial infections can be fatal, so you must learn the cause is essential.

Risk factors

Some risk factors for meningitis include:

• Skipping vaccinations. Those who are skipping the recommended childhood or adult vaccination schedule are at high risk..

• Age. Mostly, viral meningitis will occur in children who are younger than age 5 years. And then bacterial meningitis will be common in those who are under the age of 20 years.

• Living in a community setting. Generally, One type of meningitis is meningococcal meningitis, which affects the people who are living in dormitories, personnel on military bases, and boarding school children and child care or daycare  facilities. This happens by bacterias spread through the respiratory route and it spreads through large groups.

• Pregnancy. Usually, bacterias increases the risk of an infection by listeria bacteria which also causes meningitis. This infection mainly increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery.

• Weakened immune system. Some Diseases will weaken your immune  system which includes AIDS, alcohol use disorder, diabetes, immunosuppressant drugs and other factors and it also increases the risk of meningitis. People who are without a spleen should be vaccinated which lowers the risk.

Complications

Complications of meningitis can be severe. If you or your child has disease, without the treatment, it increase the risk of sudden seizures and permanent neurological damage, which includes:

• Hearing loss

• Memory problems

• Learning disabilities

• Brain damage

• Trouble walking

• Seizures

• Kidney failure

• Shock

• Death

With the help of immediate treatment for meningitis , people with severe meningitis will have good recovery.

How is meningitis treated?

Generally, treatment of meningitis is usually determined by its causes.

• Bacterial meningitis 

It requires immediate hospitalization. Early diagnosis and treatment will help you to prevent brain damage and fatal. Generally, intravenous antibiotics and steroids are used to treat the bacterial meningitis.  bacterial meningitis doesn't have specific antibiotics, it typically depends on the bacteria involved.

•  Fungal meningitis 

This type of meningitis is usually treated with antifungal agents.

• Parasitic meningitis 

This type of meningitis basically depends on the cause and this type of meningitis will also get better without the antibiotic treatment. If it worsens the symptoms, your doctor will try to treat the infection itself.

• Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis typically recovers on its own, but some other causes of viral meningitis might be treated with intravenous antiviral medications.

• Chronic meningitis 

Chronic meningitis is usually treated by treating the foremost cause of infection, like fungal infection or an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis.

Prevention

Typically, bacteria or viruses cause meningitis, this infection spreads through while infected people cough, sneeze, kiss, or share eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette to others.

Following steps can help prevent meningitis:

• Wash your hands. It helps to prevent spread of germs. You must teach your children that they must wash their hands often, particularly before eating and after using the toilet and spending time in crowded places or petting animals. Show them how to wash your hands thoroughly  and rinse their hands.

• Practice good hygiene. You should not share any type of  drinks, foods, straws, eating utensils, lip balms or toothbrushes with anyone else.  You must teach your children and teens to avoid sharing these items too.

• Stay healthy. You must maintain your immune system by taking enough rest, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains.

• Cover your mouth.  You must cover your mouth and nose while you cough or sneeze.

• If you're pregnant, take care with food.  You must choose the cheeses which are labelled as made with pasteurized milk. And you must avoid using cheeses which are made by unpasteurized milk. You can reduce your risk of  listeria infection by cooking meat under 165 degrees Fahrenheit .

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the main cause of meningitis?

Ans: Viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis. And also followed by some other bacterial infections and, rarely, fungal and parasitic infections.

Q2. What are 5 symptoms of meningitis?

Ans: Symptoms like a high temperature (fever),being sick,a headache,a stiff neck,a dislike of bright lights.

Q3. What are the 3 types of meningitis?

Ans: Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis, followed by bacterial meningitis. Rarer types of meningitis include chemical and fungal meningitis.

Q4. Who suffers from meningitis?

Ans: Adults and young adults are at high risk of meningococcal disease while the elderly are at particular risk of pneumococcal disease. People all over the world are at risk of meningitis.

Q5. How is meningitis spread?

Ans: People spread meningococcal bacteria to other people by saliva or spit. Generally, it takes close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria.