WHAT IS MENINGITIS
It is an inflammation of the membranes(meninges) that cover your brain and spinal cord.
It can be very fatal as 10-15% of cases can lead to death and some outbreaks have had a 50% mortality rate.
There are 3 diffferent types:
Bacterial – Carried and spread by bacteria, this form of the disease is vaccine-preventable.
Viral – While serious, this is often less severe than bacterial. Vaccines provide protection against this strain as well.
Fungal – This fungi-caused variant is rare and brings with it higher risks.
It can be very fatal as 10-15% of cases can lead to death and some outbreaks have had a 50% mortality rate.
There are 3 diffferent types:
Bacterial – Carried and spread by bacteria, this form of the disease is vaccine-preventable.
Viral – While serious, this is often less severe than bacterial. Vaccines provide protection against this strain as well.
Fungal – This fungi-caused variant is rare and brings with it higher risks.
The SymptomsSudden High fever
Stiff neck Severe headache with nausea or vomiting Confusion & Lack fo concentration Seizures Light sensitivity |
The CausesEach form of meningitis spreads differently. Viral and bacterial will spread person-to-person through air droplets, kissing or nasal secretions. Fungal and parasitic are ususally cause by environmental factors.
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The TreatmentAntibiotics (Bacterial strain)
Anti-viral (Viral strain) Anti-fungal Medication (Fungal strain) |
RECOMMENDED VACCINEThere are two types of meningitis vaccinations available in the U.S. One protects against A, C, W and Y strains, the other against B strains.
Meningitis B vaccination is recommended for youth age 16 to 23. It provides short term protection against infection. It is also recommended as a routine vaccination for some individuals over the age of 10 if: there has been an outbreak of meningitis B, they have a damaged or removed spleen, certain immune conditions among other similar indications. |
Where does Meningitis occur
The Meningitis Belt – This region of sub-Saharan Africa has more meningitis cases than most of the world. Three countries, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Niger, account for 65 percent of meningitis cases in Africa. In some communities in the belt, one percent of the population will contract meningitis during an outbreak. The countries in the belt are (from West to East): Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea.
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