By: Sonal Muthalali, Candace Young, and Marissa McDaniel

Meningitis

Meningitis is a serious inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord.

Two types: Viral; flu like symptoms, quick recovery Bacterial; very serious, brain damage

can occur if not treated quickly

Causes

There are two types of Meningitis and the rare fungal: Causes of Viral

› Enternoviruses› Herpes Viruses› HIV › Flaviviruses

Bacterial; › There are more than 50 bacteria that cause this.

Some of these Include Meningococcal, pneumococcal, TB, and E. Coli

Symptoms Almost all patients develop

› -Rash-small purple/red spots that spread rapidly

› -Fever Babies

› -stiff› -very floppy › -rapid breathing,

Adults › -stiff neck, › -sever headache

-sensitivity to light - muscle cramps

Transmission Person to

person › Coughing› Sneezing› Sharing eating

utensils, drinks, etc. with an infected person

Diagnosis and Treatments

If suspected, a lumbar puncture (a s mall amount of fluid taken from you spine and tested) is done

Treatment includes;› Antibiotics for

bacterial› Fever reducers› Medicines to reduce

risk of seizures› Oxygen therapy› Fluids to prevent

dehydration› Blood tests

Prevention

Meningitis vaccine Do not expose yourself to an

infected person If exposed to an individual that

is infected and you think you have symptoms, go to your doctor promptly

Vaccine

You should receive your first dose at an adolescent age.

It lasts ten years Very safe vaccine Infants at high risk

for the disease should receive it

Prevalence

There has been an outbreak of meningitis cases all around our state Link to Video about the outbreak listed below http://www.fox4now.com/news/local/173624871.html

Sources

WebMD.(2010). Meningitis- Treatment Overview. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/tc/meningitis-treatment-overview

Mengitiswise.(Nd).Viral Meningitis. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: http://www.meningitis.org/disease-info/types-causes/viral-meningitis

Fox 4. (2012). 12 dead in U.S. Meningitis Outbreak: first case found in Florida. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: http://www.fox4now.com/news/local/173624871.html