<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Contents</strong></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Causes</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Symptoms</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Exams and Tests</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Treatment</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Outlook (Prognosis)</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Possible Complications</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">When to Contact a Medical Professional</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Prevention</i></font></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges).</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="1" name="1">Causes</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The most common causes of meningitis are viral infections that usually get better without treatment. However, bacterial meningitis infections are extremely serious, and may result in death or brain damage, even if treated.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Meningitis may also be caused by:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Chemical irritation</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Drug allergies</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Fungi</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Parasites</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Tumors</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Most viral meningitis is due to enteroviruses, which are viruses that also can cause intestinal illness.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Many other types of viruses can cause meningitis.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Viral meningitis can be caused by herpes viruses, the same virus that can cause cold sores and&nbsp;genital herpes&nbsp;. However, people with cold sores or genital herpes are not at a greater risk of developing herpes meningitis.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Viruses that cause mumps and HIV can cause aseptic meningitis.</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="2" name="2">Symptoms</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Viral meningitis&nbsp;occurs more often than bacterial meningitis, and is milder. It&nbsp;usually occurs in the late summer and early fall.&nbsp;It most often affects children and adults under age&nbsp;30.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bacteria meningitis is an emergency. You will need immediate treatment in a hospital. Symptoms usually come on quickly, and may include:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003090.htm">Fever</a>&nbsp;and chills</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Mental status changes</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zdrav.kz/en/node/9904">Nausea and vomiting</a></span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Sensitivity to light (photophobia)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Severe&nbsp;<a href="http://www.zdrav.kz/en/node/10283">headache</a></span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Stiff neck (meningismus)</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Agitation</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bulging fontanelles&nbsp;in babies</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Decreased&nbsp;alertness</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Poor feeding or irritability in children</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Rapid breathing</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backwards (opisthotonos)</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Meningitis is an important cause of&nbsp;<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003090.htm">fever</a>&nbsp;in children and newborns.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">You cannot tell if you have bacterial or viral meningitis by how they feel. Your health care provider must do this. Seek prompt attention if you have symptoms of meningitis.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="3" name="3">Exams and Tests</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The doctor or nurse will examine you. This&nbsp;may show:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Fast heart rate</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003090.htm">Fever</a></span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Mental status changes</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Stiff neck</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="https://www.zdrav.kz/images/refs3/m1.JPG" style="width: 600px; height: 423px;" /></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>One of the physically demonstrable symptoms of meningitis is Brudzinski&#39;s sign. Severe neck stiffness causes a patient&#39;s hips and knees to flex when the neck is flexed.</em></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="https://www.zdrav.kz/images/refs3/m2.JPG" style="width: 600px; height: 449px;" /></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>One of the physically demonstrable symptoms of meningitis is Kernig&#39;s sign. Severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees.</em></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If the health care provider thinks you have meningitis, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) should be done to remove a sample of spinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) for testing.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Other tests that may be done include:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Blood culture</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Chest x-ray</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">CT scan of the head&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="4" name="4">Treatment</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial meningitis. The specific type depends on which&nbsp;bacteria is causing the infection. Antibiotics do not treat viral meningitis.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Antiviral medicine may be given to those with herpes meningitis.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Other treatments&nbsp;will include:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Fluids through a vein (IV)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Medicines&nbsp;to treat symptoms such as brain swelling,&nbsp;shock, and&nbsp;seizures</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="5" name="5">Outlook (Prognosis)</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis is essential to prevent permanent neurological damage. Viral meningitis is usually not serious, and symptoms should disappear within 2 weeks with no lasting complications.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="6" name="6">Possible Complications</a></span></span></h2>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Brain damage</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Buildup of fluid between the skull and brain (subdural effusion)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hearing loss</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hydrocephalus</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Seizures</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="7" name="7">When to Contact a Medical Professional</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If you think that you or your child has symptoms of meningitis, get emergency medical help immediately. Early treatment is key to a good outcome.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="8" name="8">Prevention</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Certain vaccines can help prevent some types of meningitis.</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Haemophilus vaccine (HiB vaccine) in children helps prevent&nbsp;one type of bacterial&nbsp;meningitis.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is now a routine childhood immunization. It&nbsp;is very effective at preventing pneumococcal meningitis.</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Household members and others in close contact with people who have meningococcal meningitis should receive antibiotics to prevent becoming infected.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The meningococcal vaccination is recommended for:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Adolescents ages 11 - 12 and adolescents entering high school (about age 15) who have not already received the vaccination. A booster shot is given between age 16-18.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">All college freshmen who have not been vaccinated and are living in dorms.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Children age 2 and older who do not have their spleen or who have other problems with their immune system.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Those traveling to countries where diseases caused by meningococcus are very common (ask your doctor).</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Source</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000680.htm</a></span></span></p>
