FAST FACTS ON MENINGITIS
What causes meningitis?
Meningitis is generally caused by infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and certain organisms. Anatomical defects or weak immune systems may be linked to recurrent bacterial meningitis. In the majority of cases the cause is a virus. However, some noninfectious causes of meningitis also exist.
How is meningitis transmitted?
Meningitis is transmitted to people by many methods. Both bacterial and viral meningitis are spread person to person similarly. Person-to-person spread can happen with direct and indirect contact between individuals (coughing up droplets, contact with the feces, sneezing, saliva, kissing, or eating contaminated food). Indirect spread by using the same utensils, cups, and other items used by an infected individual can also spread the disease to others. Some fungal infections are transmitted by airborne dust particles. In addition, other types of meningitis can be transferred to humans by vectors such as mosquitoes (for example, West Nile virus) or ticks (Lyme disease).
How long does meningitis last?
Viral meningitis lasts about seven to 10 days with symptoms receding gradually. Bacterial meningitis is usually cured by antibiotics. The time to cure varies with each individual and corresponds with the decrease of symptoms. If bacterial meningitis is not treated rapidly with antibiotics, there can be long-term injury to the brain and even death.
Early symptoms of meningitis broadly include:
•Vomiting
• Nausea
• Muscle pain
• High temperature (fever)
• Headache
• Cold hands and feet A rash that does not fade under pressure. This rash might start as a few small spots in any part of the body - it may spread rapidly and look like fresh bruises. This happens because blood has leaked into tissue under the skin. The rash or spots may initially fade, and then come back.
In babies, you should look out for at least one of the following symptoms:
• a high-pitched, moaning cry
• a bulging fontenelle
• being difficult to wake
• floppy and listless or stiff with jerky movements
• refusing feeds
• rapid/ unusual/ difficult breathing • pale or blotchy skin red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure
In older children, you should look out for:
• a stiff neck
• severe pains and aches in your back and joints
• sleepiness or confusion
• a dislike of bright lights
• very cold hands and feet
• shivering
• rapid breathing
• red or purple spots that do not fade under pressure
• a very bad headache (alone, not a reason to seek medical help)
When should someone seek medical care for meningitis?
Individuals should contact a medical caregiver immediately about meningitis if they suspect that they have been exposed to bacterial meningitis. Meningitis, especially bacterial meningitis, is considered a medical emergency; if an individual develops early symptoms of meningitis (high fever, headache, and/or neck stiffness) or becomes ill after contacting an individual known to have contagious meningitis, he or she should seek medical care emergently. Bacterial meningitis has about a 10% death rate unless it is treated early in the infection.