Meningitis is a condition that develops due to a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, which causes inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Even though meningococcal meningitis is most rampant in sub-Saharan Africa, or what’s known as the “meningitis belt”, roughly 2,600 cases of meningococcal meningitis are reported in the U.S. annually, with approximately 15% of those cases resulting in permanent brain damage or death, according to statistics from Florida Hospital.
Thankfully, the same research shows that quick diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics significantly increases survival by over 85%. All types of meningitis typically cause the same array of symptoms—including fever, headache, and neck stiffness that gradually gets worse over time. Due to the fact that meningitis can progress extremely fast, doctors will typically treat the patient with antibiotics while conducting a spinal tap to diagnose whether a meningitis infection is present. Treatment courses for meningitis will depend on whether the infection is viral, bacterial, or fungal, for instance:
1. Viral meningitis
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deems viral meningitis the most common form, most patients usually don’t require hospitalization or antibiotic treatment, but rather are able to recover on their own. However, if viral meningitis is diagnosed in a patient with a compromised immune systems (i.e., recent surgery or cancer treatment), or in a baby under one-month old, hospitalization is often required as well as relieving symptoms using anti-emetics for nausea and vomiting, painkillers for headache and fever, and antibiotics to fight the infection. Viral meningitis is rarely contagious, and typically results due to one of the following viral infections:
- Herpes viruses (i.e., chickenpox and shingles)
- Measles or mumps virus
- Arboviruses (i.e., West Nile virus)
- Non-polio type enteroviruses
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
- Influenza virus
2. Bacterial meningitis
Considered the most life-threatening form of meningitis, this bacterial infection is also commonly referred to as meningococcal meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can progress from mild to deadly in a few hours, and lack of treatment during this timeframe can cause brain damage, permanent hearing loss, and even death. Treatment usually completely isolates the patient for 48-hours so it can’t spread. Patients usually suffer from light sensitivity and headaches, so they’re kept in dark or dimly lit rooms and given intravenous fluids and antibiotics for up to 2 week to ward off the infection and also prevent organ failure and tissue damage due to sepsis. Bacterial exposure to the following causes bacterial meningitis:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Group B streptococcus
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Listeria monocytogenes
3. Fungal meningitis
Also known as cryptococcus, fungal meningitis is the rarest type of meningitis, which develops when fungal spores spread through the bloodstream to the brain and spinal cord. The treatment for fungal meningitis usually includes hospitalization, IV liquids, and antifungal drugs to ward off infection. Fungal meningitis most often affects adult patients with compromised immunity—for instance patients with an autoimmune disorder (AIDs or rheumatoid arthritis), recent recipients of an organ transplant, or those undergoing cancer treatment. Fungal meningitis is not contagious, however, it can develop when exposed to fungal spores via:
- Hospital stays
- Exposure to infected soil
- Epidural injections (i.e., steroids)
- Environmental inhalants
Interested in more articles about Wellness? Explore them here. Keep yourself updated with fresh content by liking us on Facebook or subscribing to our Newsletter.
If a daily dose of fantastic images related to Women’s Lifestyle gets you going, follow us on Instagram.
