meningitis
 |  |  |  |
General Information
Bacterial meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than the viral meningitis. Bacterial meningitis
can have serious after-effects, such as brain damage, hearing loss, limb amputation, or
learning disabilities. Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in
children and young adults in the United States. Other causes include Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Group B streptococcus disease and Haemophilus influenzae Serotype b
disease.
There are two vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis available in the United States:
meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune®), and meningococcal
conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra®).
Viral meningitis
Viral ("aseptic") meningitis is serious but rarely fatal in persons with normal immune
systems. Usually, the symptoms last from 7 to 10 days and the patient recovers
completely.
Many different viruses can cause meningitis. About 90% of cases of viral meningitis are
caused by members of a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, such as
coxsackieviruses and echoviruses. These viruses are more common during summer and
fall months. Herpesviruses and the mumps virus can also cause viral meningitis.
Viral meningitis is usually diagnosed by laboratory tests of spinal fluid.
No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients completely
recover on their own. Doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids, and
medicine to relieve fever and headache
Enteroviruses, the most common cause of viral meningitis, are most often spread through
direct contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) of an
infected person. This usually happens by shaking hands with an infected person or
touching something they have handled, and then rubbing your own nose or mouth. The
virus can also be found in the stool of persons who are infected.
The viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are
very common during the summer and early fall, and many people are exposed to them.
However, most infected persons either have no symptoms or develop only a cold or rash
with low-grade fever.
Adhering to good personal hygiene can help to reduce your chances of becoming infected.
The most effective method of prevention is to wash your hands thoroughly and often. Also,
cleaning contaminated surfaces and soiled articles first with soap and water, and then
disinfecting them with a dilute solution of chlorine-containing bleach.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, or LCM, is a rodent-borne viral infectious disease that
presents as aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the membrane, or meninges, that
surrounds the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or
meningoencephalitis (inflammation of both the brain and meninges).
The primary host is the common house mouse, Mus musculus. The virus is found in the
saliva, urine, and feces of infected mice. Infected mice carry LCMV and shed it for the
duration of their lives without showing any sign of illness. Other types of rodents, such as
hamsters, are not the natural reservoirs but can become infected with LCMV from wild
mice at the breeder, in the pet store or home environment. Humans are more likely to
contract LCMV from house mice, but infections from pet rodents have also been reported.
Individuals become infected with LCMV after exposure to fresh urine, droppings, saliva, or
nesting materials. Transmission can also occur when these materials are directly
introduced into broken skin, the nose, the eyes, or the mouth, or presumably, via the bite
of an infected rodent.
Some people infected with LCMV do not become ill. For infected persons who do become
ill, onset of symptoms usually occurs 8-13 days after being exposed to the virus. A
characteristic biphasic febrile illness then follows. The initial phase, which may last as
long as a week, typically begins with any or all of the following symptoms: fever, malaise,
lack of appetite, muscle aches, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms that
appear less frequently include sore throat, cough, joint pain, chest pain, testicular pain,
and parotid (salivary gland) pain. Following a few days of recovery, the second phase of
the disease occurs, consisting of symptoms of meningitis (for example, fever, headache,
and a stiff neck) or characteristics of encephalitis (for example, drowsiness, confusion,
sensory disturbances, and/or motor abnormalities, such as paralysis). LCMV has also
been known to cause acute hydrocephalus (increased fluid on the brain), which often
requires surgical shunting to relieve increased intracranial pressure.
During the first phase of the disease, the most common laboratory abnormalities are a
low white blood cell count (leukopenia) and a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Liver
enzymes in the serum may also be mildly elevated. After the onset of neurological disease
during the second phase, an increase in protein levels, an increase in the number of white
blood cells or a decrease in the glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is usually
found.
LCM is usually not fatal. In general, mortality is less than 1%. Aseptic meningitis,
encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis requires hospitalization and supportive treatment
based on severity. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, may be considered
under specific circumstances. Although studies have shown that ribavirin, a drug used to
treat several other viral diseases, is effective against LCMV in vitro.
LCMV infection can be prevented by avoiding contact with house mice and taking
precautions when handling pet rodents (i.e. mice, hamsters, or guinea pigs).
Source: CDC.gov
Bacterial meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than the viral meningitis. Bacterial meningitis
can have serious after-effects, such as brain damage, hearing loss, limb amputation, or
learning disabilities. Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in
children and young adults in the United States. Other causes include Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Group B streptococcus disease and Haemophilus influenzae Serotype b
disease.
There are two vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis available in the United States:
meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune®), and meningococcal
conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra®).
Viral meningitis
Viral ("aseptic") meningitis is serious but rarely fatal in persons with normal immune
systems. Usually, the symptoms last from 7 to 10 days and the patient recovers
completely.
Many different viruses can cause meningitis. About 90% of cases of viral meningitis are
caused by members of a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, such as
coxsackieviruses and echoviruses. These viruses are more common during summer and
fall months. Herpesviruses and the mumps virus can also cause viral meningitis.
Viral meningitis is usually diagnosed by laboratory tests of spinal fluid.
No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients completely
recover on their own. Doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids, and
medicine to relieve fever and headache
Enteroviruses, the most common cause of viral meningitis, are most often spread through
direct contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) of an
infected person. This usually happens by shaking hands with an infected person or
touching something they have handled, and then rubbing your own nose or mouth. The
virus can also be found in the stool of persons who are infected.
The viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are
very common during the summer and early fall, and many people are exposed to them.
However, most infected persons either have no symptoms or develop only a cold or rash
with low-grade fever.
Adhering to good personal hygiene can help to reduce your chances of becoming infected.
The most effective method of prevention is to wash your hands thoroughly and often. Also,
cleaning contaminated surfaces and soiled articles first with soap and water, and then
disinfecting them with a dilute solution of chlorine-containing bleach.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, or LCM, is a rodent-borne viral infectious disease that
presents as aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the membrane, or meninges, that
surrounds the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or
meningoencephalitis (inflammation of both the brain and meninges).
The primary host is the common house mouse, Mus musculus. The virus is found in the
saliva, urine, and feces of infected mice. Infected mice carry LCMV and shed it for the
duration of their lives without showing any sign of illness. Other types of rodents, such as
hamsters, are not the natural reservoirs but can become infected with LCMV from wild
mice at the breeder, in the pet store or home environment. Humans are more likely to
contract LCMV from house mice, but infections from pet rodents have also been reported.
Individuals become infected with LCMV after exposure to fresh urine, droppings, saliva, or
nesting materials. Transmission can also occur when these materials are directly
introduced into broken skin, the nose, the eyes, or the mouth, or presumably, via the bite
of an infected rodent.
Some people infected with LCMV do not become ill. For infected persons who do become
ill, onset of symptoms usually occurs 8-13 days after being exposed to the virus. A
characteristic biphasic febrile illness then follows. The initial phase, which may last as
long as a week, typically begins with any or all of the following symptoms: fever, malaise,
lack of appetite, muscle aches, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms that
appear less frequently include sore throat, cough, joint pain, chest pain, testicular pain,
and parotid (salivary gland) pain. Following a few days of recovery, the second phase of
the disease occurs, consisting of symptoms of meningitis (for example, fever, headache,
and a stiff neck) or characteristics of encephalitis (for example, drowsiness, confusion,
sensory disturbances, and/or motor abnormalities, such as paralysis). LCMV has also
been known to cause acute hydrocephalus (increased fluid on the brain), which often
requires surgical shunting to relieve increased intracranial pressure.
During the first phase of the disease, the most common laboratory abnormalities are a
low white blood cell count (leukopenia) and a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Liver
enzymes in the serum may also be mildly elevated. After the onset of neurological disease
during the second phase, an increase in protein levels, an increase in the number of white
blood cells or a decrease in the glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is usually
found.
LCM is usually not fatal. In general, mortality is less than 1%. Aseptic meningitis,
encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis requires hospitalization and supportive treatment
based on severity. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, may be considered
under specific circumstances. Although studies have shown that ribavirin, a drug used to
treat several other viral diseases, is effective against LCMV in vitro.
LCMV infection can be prevented by avoiding contact with house mice and taking
precautions when handling pet rodents (i.e. mice, hamsters, or guinea pigs).
Source: CDC.gov
| Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability. |
Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |