How do people get meningitis?

Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette. These steps can help prevent meningitis: Wash your hands. Careful hand-washing helps prevent the spread of germs.

What happens when you have meningitis?

Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening infection of the meninges, the tough layer of tissue that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. If not treated, meningitis can lead to brain swelling and cause permanent disability, coma, and even death.

What are 6 symptoms of meningitis?

Common signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia

• Fever with cold hands and feet.
• Vomiting.
• Drowsy or difficult to wake.
• Confusion and irritability.
• Severe muscle pain.
• Pale blotchy skin, spots or rash (See Glass Test (link))
• Severe headache.
• Stiff neck.

What are signs of meningitis in adults?

Symptoms of meningitis, septicaemia and meningococcal disease include:

• a high temperature.
• cold hands and feet.
• vomiting.
• confusion.
• breathing quickly.
• muscle and joint pain.
• pale, mottled or blotchy skin.
• spots or a rash.

Is meningitis a serious disease?

Bacterial meningitis is serious. Some people with the infection die and death can occur in as little as a few hours. However, most people recover from bacterial meningitis. Those who do recover can have permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities.

How do they test for meningitis?

The most reliable way to diagnose meningitis is with a lumbar puncture . During a lumbar puncture, a doctor inserts a long, thin needle in between two vertebrae in the lower back. This allows them to withdraw some cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is the fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord.

Does meningitis require surgery?

No surgical therapy is usually indicated in patients with viral meningitis. In rare patients in whom viral meningitis is complicated by hydrocephalus, a CSF diversion procedure, such as ventriculoperitoneal (VP) or LP shunting, may be required.

What are some interesting facts about Meningitis?

Here are the top interesting facts about meningitis: #1 It is an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and the fluid in the spinal cord. These can become inflamed due to a virus or an injury, however, the most dangerous form is caused by a bacterial infection.

What are the most common symptoms of meningitis?

The most common symptoms of either form of meningitis include: Fever. Severe and persistent headache. Stiff and painful neck, especially when trying to touch the chin to the chest. Vomiting. Confusion and decreased level of consciousness. Seizures.

What are the two main types of meningitis?

There are actually five types of meningitis – bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal, and non-infectious – each classified by the cause of the disease. Symptoms are similar for each type of meningitis, but there are some differences, says Lorene Cathey, RN, MSN, manager of infection prevention at The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

What is meningitis and can it be prevented?

Bacterial meningitis is one of the most dangerous infections in children. Meningitis can be swift and deadly. It can also lead to chronic disability. The fear of meningitis often haunts parents. Thankfully, most cases of bacterial meningitis can now be prevented.