Meningitis is the inflammation of the outer membranes of the brain and the spinal cord known as meninges. The bacterial or viral infection can affect the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord that results in the inflammation. This can also occur as the result of various conditions such as injuries, exposure to certain drugs, cancer and other forms of infections. Some types of meningitis can improve on their own without the need for treatment within a few weeks while other forms can be life-threatening requiring immediate medical intervention. During the diagnosis, the exact cause needs to be determined as the treatment plan varies. The serious complications that can develop from this condition can be prevented by early treatment.
Symptoms
Meningitis symptoms can develop with the sudden onset of fever, stiff neck and headache. Additional symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, altered mental state and photophobia. Among the newborn infants, the symptoms can include irritability, loss of appetite and inactiveness.
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis can be very serious and fatal causing permanent disabilities such as hearing loss, learning disabilities and brain damage. Some of the common causes of bacterial meningitis include streptococcus, listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Neisseria meningitidis. They can spread by the coughing or sneezing from the infected person or by consuming food prepared by individuals who didn’t wash their hands well after toilet use. The symptoms of bacterial meningitis can typically occur within 3 to 7 days after exposure. The treatment for bacterial meningitis includes antibiotics which should be initiated soon as possible.
Viral meningitis
This is considered to be one of the common forms of meningitis that is less severe than bacterial meningitis. Some of the common types of virus that causes this include influenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. This spread from the close contact of the affected individual although only a small number of people infected continue to develop viral meningitis. There is no specific treatment available for viral meningitis and most affected individuals tend to get better without the need for treatment within 7 to 10 days.
Fungal meningitis
This is caused by the fungus that spread to the spinal cord and mostly affects individuals with weakened immune system such as cancer patients. Some of the different types of fungus that causes meningitis include cryptococcus, histoplasma, blastomyces and coccidioides. The transmission varies based on the type of fungus which is possible by inhaling the contaminated soil with bird droppings or the soil of endemic areas. The fungal spores which are inhaled spreads from the lungs to the spinal cord. The treatment for fungal meningitis consists of antifungal medications and the duration of treatment is based on the strength of the immune system of the affected individual.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html
https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html
https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html
https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/fungal.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/home/ovc-20169520
