How Do You Get Meningitis? Transmission And Types

May 15, 2023

A doctor may not wait for the results of blood tests to start this treatment, as delaying increases the risk of severe illness. A rare but severe complication of bacterial meningitis — usually meningococcal meningitis — is known as Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome . This involves a hemorrhage in the adrenal glands, which causes them to stop working. In severe cases of meningitis, a person may experience enough brain damage to cause a coma. To diagnose this condition, a healthcare provider will do a spinal tap to take a sample of fluid from around the spinal cord. The healthcare provider will also ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam.

It results from a water-borne single-celled organism called Naegleria fowleri entering the body through the nose. Methods for preventing the contraction and spread of meningitis include the following. Meningitis is an uncommon but serious, life-threatening infection.

Does meningitis increase my risk of COVID-19 infection?

If your provider says you don’t need to come in immediately, rest as much as possible while you’re waiting for your appointment. Noninfectious meningitis due to allergic reaction or autoimmune disease may be treated with corticosteroids. In some cases, no treatment may be required because the condition can resolve on its own.

Causes of Viral Meningitis

Bacteria may be spread through respiratory and throat secretions, such as from coughing and kissing. Reduction of disability and improvement of quality of life after meningitis due to any cause. The global roadmap “Defeating Meningitis by 2030” was developed by WHO with the support of many partners. The strategy was approved in the first ever resolution on meningitis by the World Health Assembly in 2020 and endorsed unanimously by WHO member states.

To date, the Los Angeles area has seen one case, of unknown origin, in the gay community. CDC is also emphasizing the importance of routine MenACWY vaccination for people with HIV. For the best protection, people with HIV should make sure they have gotten their 2-dose primary series of a MenACWY vaccine and are up to date with booster doses.

Group B streptococcus is often carried in the human gut or vagina and can spread from mother to child around the time of birth. Treatment for bacterial meningitis involves antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic depends on the infectious agent and the age of the patient. Bacterial meningitis can be fatal in one in 10 cases.

CDC routinely recommends MenACWY vaccine for children and adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease during an outbreak involving serogroups A, C, W, or Y. CDC also recommends a booster shot for those at increased risk due to an outbreak who received the vaccine more than 5 years ago. Viral meningitis does not spread easily from person to person. However, bacterial meningitis spreads quickly between people who share saliva, come in close contact with each other, or sneeze or cough on someone.

Pneumococcal meningitis most often affects babies and young children under 18 months of age. A type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia causes this form of the condition. Chronic meningitis — one that’s long-lasting — can be caused by slow-growing organisms such as fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

These bacteria are responsible for more than half of the deaths from meningitis globally and they cause other severe diseases like sepsis and pneumonia. While they are less common, these symptoms are usually more noticeable. Many of these symptoms are also more likely to happen in bacterial, rather than viral, meningitis. Drink plenty of fluids and take acetaminophen to reduce your fever and body aches. Also avoid any medicines that may make you less alert.

These precautions can also prevent the spread of meningitis to friends or family members. Bacterial meningitis often spreads through droplets onlinedatingcritic.com from the mouth or nose. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to take precautions to prevent the spread of these droplets.