Meningitis Basics
These Articles Explain Symptoms, Dx, and Treatment Basics
The following meningitis articles explain the basics about symptoms, diagnosis, complications, meningitis types, and treatments.
Meningitis is a serious, sometimes life-threatening neurological illness. It results in inflammation and swelling of the meninges, or coverings of the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria or by viruses. The bacterial variety, also known as meningococcal meningitis, can be deadly and requires immediate medical intervention. The viral variety tends to take a milder course, but is still serious and requires bedrest.
The following articles reveal the basic facts about both viral and bacterial meningitis. They focus on symptoms, causes, spread of illness, diagnosis, and treatment. Learn more about meningitis with the following basic articles:
Meningitis Diagnosis and Treatment
Patients who present with meningitis symptoms must be diagnosed and treated correctly. Symptoms are the first key to proper diagnosis. Since time is of the essence, a doctor often starts a suspected bacterial meningitis patient on high-dose antibiotics if he or she is already very ill. Meningitis can become rampant within a few hours. The important job is to determine the type of meningitis. Doctors will perform lumbar punctures (spinal taps) to check spinal fluid for other bacterial or viral infections. This procedure can pinpoint herpes, syphilis, or Lyme disease infections. The lumbar puncture will also indicate if the meningitis is bacterial or viral. If the meningitis is bacterial (more life-threatening), then the strain of bacteria needs to be determined in order to administer the most effective antibiotic to the patient. For very ill patients who are immediately put on antibiotics, medications can be adjusted once lab results show which form of bacteria is causing the meningitis. More....
Bacterial meningitis is an uncommon, but often deadly, infection. It is caused by one of several bacterial strains, such as streptococcus pneumoniae or meningococcal bacteria (currently the most prevalent.) This illness is often termed meningococcal meningitis. The bacteria in question attack a person's membranes, or meninges, that surround the brain and/or spinal cord. The bacteria cause inflammation to these membranes, making a person very sick.
As many as 3,000 people in the U.S. become infected with meningitis yearly. There is a viral type, but it tends to be less serious and can be overcome more easily. Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial, but the bacterial variety can be deadly. The prime population who is susceptible to bacterial meningitis is young adults (teens through twentysomethings.) The bacteria is spread by kissing; sharing food, utensils, or cigarettes; and even simply by being in close contact with others (spread of bacteria through coughing or secretions.) More.....
Viral meningitis, the most common form of meningitis, can be caused by several different viral infections. About 90% of all viral meningitis cases are caused by a group of viruses called "endoviruses." Viral meningitis can also be caused by such viruses as the mumps and herpes.
Viral meningitis, much like the bacterial variety, is spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions such as mucus and saliva. The virus is spread by kissing; sharing food, utensils, or cigarettes; and even simply by being in close contact with others (spread through coughing or sneezing.) Another way of developing viral meningitis is by being exposed to contaminated feces (dirty diapers.) More....
