There is a protective membrane that covers the brain and the
spinal cord. A serious disease, meningitis, can affect that covering.
Meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membrane, is most often
due to an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
It is also called spinal meningitis.
The causes are varied. Most often bacteria or a virus is to blame. However, it is sometimes a result of physical injury or cancer. There are some drugs known to cause it as well.
The severity and medical treatment will vary and different treatments are used when it is bacterial in origin as opposed to viral. Categories of causative factors include bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. Bacterial meningitis, although very serious, is responsive to antibiotic treatment. Treatment can keep the disease from spreading to others and prevent it from developing into a more severe illness in the patient.
There are a number of causes of viral spinal meningitis including enteroviruses, measles, influenza, mumps, herpesvirus, arboviruses and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Meningococcal disease is another medical term for bacterial meningitis and another sub-category, meningococcemia. The patient will present with the following symptoms: fever, headache and stiff neck (meningitis) and sepsis and rash (meningococcemia).
Immediate emergency treatment is crucial. Ten to fourteen percent of those infected die from it. The remaining eighty-six to ninety percent have serious aftereffects. Some are deafness, retardation or amputation of a limb. Isolation is necessary as this is an extremely contagious disease.
It is transmitted by direct contact with secretions emitted as the infected person breathes. The bacteria grow on the mucosal surfaces of the nasopharynx (sinus cavities and mouth) of the infected individual and thus, are easily passed from one person to someone in close proximity. Crowded areas can turn into the source of an epidemic in some instances.
College students living in dormitories are especially susceptible. This can be spread in epidemic proportions in those countries that are underdeveloped. Anyone showing early symptoms should seek immediate emergency treatment.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davide_Benessere
The causes are varied. Most often bacteria or a virus is to blame. However, it is sometimes a result of physical injury or cancer. There are some drugs known to cause it as well.
The severity and medical treatment will vary and different treatments are used when it is bacterial in origin as opposed to viral. Categories of causative factors include bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. Bacterial meningitis, although very serious, is responsive to antibiotic treatment. Treatment can keep the disease from spreading to others and prevent it from developing into a more severe illness in the patient.
There are a number of causes of viral spinal meningitis including enteroviruses, measles, influenza, mumps, herpesvirus, arboviruses and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Meningococcal disease is another medical term for bacterial meningitis and another sub-category, meningococcemia. The patient will present with the following symptoms: fever, headache and stiff neck (meningitis) and sepsis and rash (meningococcemia).
Immediate emergency treatment is crucial. Ten to fourteen percent of those infected die from it. The remaining eighty-six to ninety percent have serious aftereffects. Some are deafness, retardation or amputation of a limb. Isolation is necessary as this is an extremely contagious disease.
It is transmitted by direct contact with secretions emitted as the infected person breathes. The bacteria grow on the mucosal surfaces of the nasopharynx (sinus cavities and mouth) of the infected individual and thus, are easily passed from one person to someone in close proximity. Crowded areas can turn into the source of an epidemic in some instances.
College students living in dormitories are especially susceptible. This can be spread in epidemic proportions in those countries that are underdeveloped. Anyone showing early symptoms should seek immediate emergency treatment.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5713653
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