and delirious. Other possible symptoms are seizures and possibly coma. If the infection can not be stopped with antibiotics or other treatments the disease could be fatal.
Pneumococcal meningitis can also cause septicaemia.
Which is blood poisoning caused by bacteria in the bloodstream. The bacteria swims around and gives of poisons that attack blood vessels causing them to leak. With the reduced blood supply the oxygen is not reaching the vital organs and tissues, and the outer extremeities causing them to be cold. It can also lead to organ failure, including heart failure and death.
Pneumococcal meningitis is acquired by, coughing and sneezing and close contact. A lot of people carry pneumococcal meningitis in their nose and throat. Most cases the bacteria is harmless except for the susceptible person, sometimes it can develop form milder forms of infection such as an earache.
It is treated by recognizing the symptoms and getting treated immediately, it should be treated in a hospital. The DR may do a lumbar puncture to confirm the meningitis, because sometimes it can be covered up by other infections. And to show which bacteria is causing the illness, and for the ATB that they need to use to treat the infection. The ATB’s are given by IV. Steroids may also be given by IV to reduce the swelling in the brain. Also fluids are given via IV to prevent dehydration, the ATB treatment will last for two
weeks.
For the most part patients recover from the disease. About half of them have after effects which maybe mild or temporary, and improve with time. Some have moderate to severe. These can be identified while the patient is still in the hospital. Some won’t show up for months to years after the treatment. These effects can include, behavioural and emotional, children can become clingy and throw fits. Adults can feel despondent and irritable. These feeling usually resolve, but lasting psychological problems can be serious enough to require mental health services. Hearing loss is the most common serious effect. Damage to the brain and other parts of the nervous system can cause learning disabilitis, issues with coordination, it can cause speech problems, and visual impairment.
There is vaccines for pneumococcal bacteria there are more than 90 types of this bacteria, the vaccine PCV13 will cover 13 types this is for tiny humans and young children. There is also PPSV23 it covers 23 types. For adults its recommended that the PCV13 is given then one year later the PPSV23 given. It is not recommended that the PPSV23 be given to children under 2. They both provide protection against meningitis.