Menocal Meningitis Research Paper

Meningococcal Meningitis Meningococcal Meningitis is rare but deadly bacterial infection that causes the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord to swell. Patients can go from healthy to extremely ill within minutes. A bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, causes meningococcal meningitis. THe bacteria often lives in the throat but sometimes it can break through the throat walls and move into the bloodstream, which is when it becomes menocal meningitis Neisseria meningitidis attacks the lining around the brain called meninges that then it infects the fluid running through the spinal cord The risks increase if the patient is exposed to meningococcus bacteria, it also increases if the patient
had a recent upper respiratory infection. 1 out of 5 people who get this disease have serious complications. Research from the Centers for Disease control, only 15% of those who survive are left with disabilities such as brain damage, deafness, and neurological problems. 1 in 50 patients that become ill with this disease will die but the others will have permanent brain problems. In 1978, the first vaccine for meningococcal meningitis was approved. It is called Meningococcal polysaccharide or MPSV4. It uses antigens taken from a sugar capsule and a separate protein which triggers the body's immune system to cause the body to make antibodies. The antibodies protect the body by killing the bacteria if the patient gets exposed to it. There are 4 vaccines that are approved in the United States. Menveo vaccine is approved for ages 2 to 55 years old. Menactra was approved for 9 mones to 55 years old. In 2015, two more vaccines were approved, MenB-FHpb and MenB-4c, for ages 10-25 years old. Both come in multiple doses. The history of this disease dates back all the way to the 16th century. The first big outbreak of it was in Switzerland, 1805, with 33 deaths. 1887, it was first identified as a bacterium Neisseria intracellularis causing mining coal in CFS of 6 patients. In the 1920’s it was a 70% fatal in meningococcal cases. Jochmann from Germany and Flexner in the United States would reduce the mortality rate from 100% to 30%
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to diagnose meningococcal meningitis because many of the signs and symptoms are very similar to other illness.
A Doctor will do a blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Then, the doctor will test the samples to see if the infection is in it. If the infection happens to be in the test samples they will test what germ is causing it. If the bacterium Neisseria Meningitidis bacterium are in the test samples the laboratories can grow it. Growing it allows to let doctors know what the specific type of bacteria is causing the infection. Knowing what type of bacteria it is helps doctors decide what antibiotic will work best for the
patient.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms may vary from case to case but the most common ones include; sudden high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, discomfort is bright lights, drowsiness, joint pain, confusion.
If a reddish purple rash is very important to look out for. If the patient develops this rash is may be a sign of blood poisoning. If an older child or young adult gets meningococcal meningitis they will have many similar symptoms but some different ones; difficulty walking, unintelligible speech, moaning, and collapsing. Babies will have; fever, refusing to feed, diarrhea, and dislike being
handled.
Treatment
If the doctor suspects you have meningococcal meningitis, they will immediately give an antibiotic injection, which is usually penicillin. In some cases, an admission to the intensive care unit for more treatment. If the patient was in close contact with anyone 7 days before the patient became sick, such as; family in the same household, any friends that spent the night, anyone that was in the same room with the patent for at least 4 hours, and or girlfriend or boyfriend, are usually contacted by the Doctor. They will go through clearance drugs. The clearance antibiotics will kill meningococcus bacteria in the throat but will not treat meningococcal meningitis.