Meningitis Research Paper

Meningitis: Spinal Meningitis Got Me Down Meningitis is a highly infectious disease that is very well known throughout the world today. It is an inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord. In 1805, Meningitis was discovered during an outbreak in Geneva, Switzerland. Furthermore, in 1996 Africa experienced the largest recorded outbreak of meningitis that caused more than 250,000 people to be infected with meningitis and more than 25,000 were killed. The largest and most recurring causes of meningitis occur in Africa. There is an area in Africa called the Meningitis Belt that is south of the Sahara desert, where meningitis is most common. Many countries in the Meningitis Belt have experienced some of the largest meningitis
epidemics. These epidemics are caused by the Meningococcus genus of the bacteria. In some cases when the disease cannot be treated, it can advance very quickly. It is fatal in about 15 percent of the cases, which is significantly higher for infants and adults over 60 years old. Every year about 20,000 to 25,000 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported in the United States every year. To be fully educated about the illness of meningitis, one should know the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the disease. The first thing to know about meningitis is to know the causes. Meningitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The causes can vary by age group (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). First, for newborns the causes would be Group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Secondly, the causes for infants and children are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitides, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Thirdly, for adolescents and young adults the causes are Neisseria meningitides, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Finally, the causes for older adults are Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Many factors that can increase the risk of bacterial meningitis are age, community setting, certain medical conditions, working with meningitis-causing pathogens, and travel (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). “This disease affects many places in the human body such as the nervous system, brain, head, and spine” (“Meningitis” 2). Some bacteria can spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Sometimes coming into contact with an organism that has contracted the disease can cause it (“Meningitis” 2). “Meningitis generally involves two types: non-bacterial meningitis, which is often called aseptic meningitis, and bacterial meningitis, which is referred to as purulent meningitis” (“Meningitis, Bacterial” 3). The bacteria that are most common causes are Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes (“Meningitis, Bacterial” 3). Learning about the different causes of this disease is just the first part of understanding meningitis. In addition to the causes of meningitis, one should also learn about the symptoms caused by meningitis.
“There are many different symptoms that meningitis can cause. Sudden fever, headache, and stiff neck may occur” (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). It will often have other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, altered mental status, and dehydration (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). These may be preceded by an upper respiratory infection (“Meningitis” 2). The symptoms can vary and may affect the certain patient differently depending on the age of the patient (“Meningitis” 2). For example, newborns may exhibit either fever or hypothermia, along with lethargy or irritability, disinterest in feeding, and abdominal distention (“Meningitis” 2). “When the spinal cord is involved, a person can experience pain in the neck and legs that becomes progressively worse” (“Meningitis, Bacterial” 3). The symptoms of bacterial meningitis can appear quickly or progress over several days (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). In a usual case they develop within 3-7 days after the exposure of meningitis (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). To know and understand this disease it is important to know about the possible
symptoms. Finally, there is one very effective way that meningitis can be treated. Bacterial Meningitis can be treated effectively with antibiotics (“Meningitis” 1). The choice of the antibiotic depends on the bacterium that is causing the infection (“Meningitis, Bacterial 3). “When first treating an infection that is suspected of being meningitis, several antibiotics that are effective against the widest variety bacteria are often used even before the cause of the infection had been identified” (“Meningitis, Bacterial” 3). When antibiotics are given for this disease, they are usually added directly into the vein (“Meningitis, Bacterial” 3). “This produces a high level of the antibiotic throughout the body and, because the antibiotic can be continuously supplied, the dose can stay constant during the several weeks of treatment that is usually required” (Meningitis, Bacterial” 3). The antibiotics used to treat meningitis are: Cephalosporin, Claforan, Rocephin, and Gentamicin (“Meningitis” 2). Other treatments include surgery, supportive therapy, blood transfusions, and subdural taps (“Meningitis” 2). Some different types of over-the-counter medications are used to reduce the high fever (“Meningitis” 2). Types of over-the-counter medications used are Tylenol and Ibuprofen (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Other types of medicine are pain medications and fluids in other fever reducer medications to help treat dehydration (“Bacterial Meningitis” 1). Knowing and understanding all the possible treatments for meningitis can help for a smooth recovery from the disease. When contracting the bacterial infection of meningitis, one should know all about the causes, symptoms, and treatments.
First, meningitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. A person can contract the bacteria by community setting, certain medical conditions, working with meningitis-causing pathogens, and travel. There are three different types of the most common cases of meningitis. The three include: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, many of the symptoms can vary by a different age group. Some symptoms can be more serve than others. The first signs of meningitis are nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, altered mental status, and dehydration. Lastly, one main thing to help recovery is the treatments. The treatments include antibiotics, surgery, supportive therapy, blood transfusions, and subdural taps. Many medications and antibiotics can help reduce the symptoms caused by meningitis. Also, it can help make a smooth road to recovery. Some prevention methods that can help not put one at risk are to complete the recommended vaccine schedule just in case. If you can maintain a healthy habit, like not smoking and avoiding cigarette smoke, getting good rest, and not coming close in contact with people who are sick, then you can prevent getting the risk of meningitis. Today, bacterial meningitis is curable if treated promptly with antibiotics. The future goals of meningitis are to make stronger
vaccines to help combat this disease worldwide.