Meningitis Disease

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membrane or the membranes lining the brain and nervous tunjang. Meningitis can be caused by various organisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungus that spreads into the blood and migrate into the brain fluid.


Patients suspected of having meningitis should be made an accurate examination, whether it is caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi. It is necessary for the specification of the treatment, since each will receive therapy according to the cause.
� Causes of Meningitis Disease
Meningitis caused by a virus is generally not harmful, would recover without specific treatment and care. However, bacterial meningitis can lead to serious conditions, such as brain damage, hearing loss, lack of ability to learn, can even cause death. Meningitis is caused by the fungus while very rare, this type generally affects people who have damaged immune (immune system) as in patients with AIDS.

Bacteria that can cause meningitis attack include:
A. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
This is the most common bacterial cause of meningitis in infants or children. This type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia, ear and nasal cavities (sinuses).

2. Neisseria meningitis(meningococcus).
This bacterium is the cause of the second largest after Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract and the bacteria enter the bloodstream.

3. Haemophilus influenzae (Haemophilus).
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a type of bacteria that can also cause meningitis. This type of virus as the cause upper respiratory infections, middle ear and sinusitis. Vaccine (Hib vaccine) have shown the rate of decline in cases of bacterial meningitis caused by this species.

4. Listeria monocytogenes (listeria).
This is one type of bacteria that can cause meningitis. These bacteria can be found in many places, the dust and in contaminated food. These foods are usually the type of cheese, hot dogs and sandwich meat which is derived from the bacterium local animals (pets).

5. Other bacteria can also cause meningitis are Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
� Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis
Typical and common symptom displayed by the people over the age of 2 years of meningitis are fever, headache and stiffness of the neck muscles that lasts for hours or be felt up to 2 days. Signs and symptoms are photophobia (fear / avoid bright beam of light), phonophobia (fear / disturbed by a loud noise), nausea, vomiting, often seems confused, difficulty getting up from sleep, even unconscious.

In infants the symptoms and signs of meningitis may be very difficult to know, but generally the baby will look weak and silent (inactive), shivering, vomiting and reluctant to breastfeed.
� Handling and Treatment of Meningitis Disease
If there are signs and symptoms as above, then the patient was brought immediately to the hospital to get health care is intensive. Physical examination, including examination labratorium blood test (elektrolite, liver and kidney function, as well as complete blood), and the X-ray (radiograph) lung will help the doctors in diagnosing the disease. While the examination is very important if the patient has suspected meningitis Lumbar puncture is the examination (examination of the fluid lining of the brain).

If on examination the patient was diagnosed as meningitis, then the infusion of antibiotics (intravenous) is a good step to ensure cure and abate or avoid the risk of complications. Antibiotics are given to patients depending on the type of bacteria found.

As for some antibiotics are often prescribed by doctors in cases of bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitis, among others, Cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime). While bacterial meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes will be given Ampicillin, Vancomycin, and carbapenem (meropenem), Chloramphenicol or Ceftriaxone.

Treatment or other therapy is leading to the symptoms, such as headache and fever (paracetamol), shock and convulsions (diazepam) and others.
� Prevention of transmission of disease Meningitis
Meningitis caused by a virus can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing eating a spoon, brush your teeth with the use and smoking alternately in a single trunk. So for those of you who know a colleague or around anyone experienced this type of meningitis should be careful. Mancuci hands thoroughly before eating and after ketoilet general, holding the pet. Maintain stamina (endurance) of the body by eating nutritious foods and regular exercise are very well avoid various diseases.

Provision of vaccine immunization (vaccine) Meningitis is an appropriate action, especially in areas of known epidemic prone to meningitis, which has been known as for the vaccine as a precaution against meningitis include;
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
Meningitis Disease Meningitis Disease Reviewed by YAW on 9:19 AM Rating: 5

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