What is meningitis?

University of Maryland Medical Center

Source - https://www.umm.edu/nervous/meningit.htm

Nervous System Diseases

Meningitis

• What is meningitis?
  Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain.

What causes meningitis?
There are two distinct types of meningitis, each with different causes:

viral - caused by a virus

bacterial - caused by a bacterium

• Bacterial meningitis, although rare, may be fatal.
• Bacteria may be spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions, such as coughing and kissing, but they cannot live outside the body for long. They cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, buildings, etc.
• Many species of bacteria can cause meningitis, but three types account for about 80 percent of cases, including the following:
• neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus)
  Meningococcus is found in the nasopharynx of about 5 percent of the population and is spread by respiratory droplets and close contact. For unknown reasons, only a small fraction of carriers develop meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis occurs most often in the first year of life, but may also occur in closed populations, such as schools.
• haemophilus influenzae type b
  Haemophilus influenzae type b accounts for most meningitis in children older than 1 month, but usually not in adults unless there is a predisposing factor such as head trauma or a compromised immune system. Vaccines against this type are given to children as part of a routine vaccination program.
• streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus)
  Pneumococcus is the most common cause of adult meningitis. Those at high risk may include persons with chronic ear infections, sinus infections, closed head injury, recurrent meningitis, and pneumococcal pneumonia.

How does the infection reach the brain?
There are several ways that the infection can reach the brain, including the following:

• through the bloodstream from another infected part of the body
• through the bones of the skull from infected sinuses or inner ears
• from a head injury, such as a fractured skull or penetrating wound
• after surgery or extended hospitalization
• from a weakened immune system
• as a result of chronic kidney failure

What are the symptoms of meningitis?
The following are the most common symptoms of meningitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• fever
• headache
• nausea and vomiting
• stiff neck
• photophobia (low tolerance to bright light)
• confusion
• joint aches or pains
• drowsiness
• seizures

It is important to note that these symptoms may not occur all at once, nor in everyone who contracts meningitis. The symptoms of meningitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

How is meningitis diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for meningitis may include the following:

• lumbar puncture (spinal tap) - a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. The pressure in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord.
• blood testing
• computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays

Originally posted by: ramas

Actually my aunt died of mennigitis at the age of 21 leaving her infant son. She had contacted disease from the hospital when she went to deliver my cousin.

She died few days after coming home leaving a new born baby( my cousin brother) to be raised by mom and dad.

and reading about brain mennigits. I suspect my brother may have died from brain mennigits too last year because doctors could not diagnosed how he died.

He too was perfectly healthy. Healthiest among all of us siblings. he had brain skull head injury trying to save a dog in 1995 he had fractured skull and he was unconsious for 3 days. Finally he came around after having a bad headches for few years and he was perfectly all right the day he died he was feeling uneasy and wanted to rest. His death was a shock to evrey one as he was only 43 years old and had talked to so many ppl that day.

We had never expected that he will die so soon. i am still having hard time accepting that he is gone.

I too read that in brain memngitis the bacteria grows in brain due to the prior head injury and attacks nervous system.