Meningitis Meningitis

By: Marissa O’Connell By: Marissa O’Connell

What is Meningitis?What is Meningitis? Meningitis is swelling Meningitis is swelling

and inflammation of and inflammation of the membranes and the membranes and linings that protect linings that protect and surround the and surround the spinal cord and the spinal cord and the brain. brain.

•Because meningitis affects the outer layer of the spine, it is sometimes known as “spinal meningitis.”

The Facts and History

Meningitis goes all the way back to one hundred years ago.

In the Early 20th century, the outbreaks of meningitis left destruction to our world by killing around eighty percent of the people that had become contaminated.

It wasn’t till 1978 when we put a stop to meningitis infections, and came up with a vaccination.

The Facts and HistoryThe Facts and History

The virus than The virus than spread from spread from family to family family to family throughout the throughout the village. Thirty-village. Thirty-three lives were three lives were taken. taken.

Meningitis began in 1805. A family in Geneva was the first that was taken over by meningitis.

According to author William Pepper, this was the first documented case in history that was recorded of meningitis.

Geneva

Facts and HistoryFacts and History Meningitis then Meningitis then

made its way across made its way across the ocean and into the ocean and into the United States in the United States in 1806. 1806.

The first documented case of meningitis in America was found in a tiny community in Medford, Massachusetts.

When meningitis hit Medford, Massachusetts, it caused so much attention that a group of three physicians from the State Medical Society were sent to investigate the virus. After meningitis hit America, it than continued to spread all over.

Medford, Massachusetts

Facts and HistoryFacts and History In 1944, the first In 1944, the first

antibiotic that was antibiotic that was ever used to fight ever used to fight against meningitis against meningitis was penicillin. was penicillin.

The penicillin was not that effective though. It wasn’t till 1978 when we came up with a vaccine that stopped meningitis.

Two Main Types Two Main Types Two types of Two types of

meningitis. The meningitis. The first one is viral first one is viral meningitis. meningitis.

Viral Meningitis

•Fairly common

•Generally does not create severe illness

•In some serious cases, it can cause prolonged seizures and fevers

Two Main Types Two Main Types The other The other

type of type of meningitis is meningitis is bacterial. bacterial.

Bacterial Meningitis

•Very serious type of meningitis

•Not as common

•Needs to be treated as soon as possible to prevent brain damage and death

•inflammationinflammation of the brain.

Etiology/Causes of Meningitis Etiology/Causes of Meningitis Viral MeningitisViral Meningitis

•More common in the late summer and early fall Can be caused by many different viruses. These viruses can be transmitted through: sneezing, coughing, or poor hygiene. Also other types of viruses can be transmitted through sewage, and polluted waters •.

sneezing

coughing

Poor hygiene

Polluted waters

Etiology/Causes of MeningitisEtiology/Causes of Meningitis

Viral Meningitis Viral Meningitis Viral meningitis can also follow and develop after you have had the chicken pox or mumps.

There are some cases of viral meningitis that are caused from mosquito-born viruses.

Chicken Pox

Mumps

Etiology/Causes of Etiology/Causes of MeningitisMeningitis

Bacterial Bacterial MeningitisMeningitis•More common in the

late winter to early spring

•There are various types of bacterial meningitis, but the two types that signify the majority of the bacterial meningitis are called Meningococcal and Pneumococcal.

•The bacteria is usually caused from the back of the throat or nose, or in the upper respiratory track. They can be spread among people from:

•Kissing~ Coughing~ Sneezing

The bacteria can not be outside the body for a long period of time. Because they can only survive in the body, this illness can not be received from:

•Swimming pools~ Water supplies~ A building with air-conditioning system

Symptoms Symptoms

Viral meningitis and Viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis bacterial meningitis have similar have similar symptoms. symptoms.

Bacterial Meningitis can usually come and show abruptly. Viral meningitis can emerge unexpectedly or develop over a period of days.

Symptoms Symptoms ~For both forms of meningitis in older children and adults, the ~For both forms of meningitis in older children and adults, the

general symptoms include: general symptoms include: feverfever severe and constant headachessevere and constant headaches stiff and painful neck (particularly when trying to touch stiff and painful neck (particularly when trying to touch

your chin to your chest)your chin to your chest) vomitingvomiting confusion and low level of consciousnessconfusion and low level of consciousness SeizuresSeizures eye sensitivity and eye pain caused from bright lightseye sensitivity and eye pain caused from bright lights skin rashesskin rashes dizzy spells. dizzy spells.

Symptoms Symptoms

~Symptoms that show in infants and young children: ~Symptoms that show in infants and young children: whimpering and crying in a very high-pitched mannerwhimpering and crying in a very high-pitched manner difficulty in waking and very sluggish when awakedifficulty in waking and very sluggish when awake fussiness when being cuddled or heldfussiness when being cuddled or held arching the back and retracting the neckarching the back and retracting the neck staring blankly at their environmentstaring blankly at their environment having high fever and cold feet and handshaving high fever and cold feet and hands refusing foodrefusing food VomitingVomiting appearing pale or blotchyappearing pale or blotchy having a coughhaving a cough having trouble breathing. having trouble breathing.

Treatments Treatments Before the doctors Before the doctors

know if they have know if they have bacterial meningitis or bacterial meningitis or viral, they put their viral, they put their patients on patients on intravenous intravenous antibiotics. antibiotics.

With anyone who has a risk or a possibility of containing meningitis, the doctors isolate their patients right away.

If the outcome turns out to be viral meningitis, they are taken off of the antibiotic treatment because it has no effect on it.

Treatments of Viral Meningitis Viral meningitis

usually only needs home treatment.

•Home treatment includes resting! Resting is a huge healing process

•Resting does not only mean sleep, it also means doing silent activities

Treatments of Viral Treatments of Viral MeningitisMeningitis

Some of those Some of those activities include: activities include: reading books, reading books, watching videos, watching videos, playing bored playing bored games, listening to games, listening to music, and just music, and just taking it easy on taking it easy on your body. your body.

Treatments for Viral MeningitisTreatments for Viral Meningitis

Home Home treatment treatment also includes also includes taking care taking care of your fever.of your fever.

Sometimes all you need to take care of a fever is by using a cool washcloth and placing it on the forehead. Cold baths help as well.

Tylenol and Advil help as well.

Treatments for Viral Treatments for Viral MeningitisMeningitis

~Home ~Home treatment treatment also also includes: includes:

liquids liquids (water, (water, juices, teas, juices, teas, etc. etc.

Home treatment is necessary to cure viral meningitis. Although, throughout this treatment, you have to watch for complications during the illness. One of the main complications includes hearing loss, seizures, and a fever that’s longer lasting than anticipated. If these complications occur, they than may need to be treated in the hospital.

Treatments for severe Viral and Treatments for severe Viral and Bacterial Meningitis Bacterial Meningitis

Severe viral meningitis and bacterial Severe viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis need treatment from the meningitis need treatment from the hospital. hospital.

•For bacterial meningitis, antibiotics are used. They are usually given through the vein.

•If any type of meningitis is creating pressure within the brain, corticosteroid medicines will be given to adults or elder children.

Treatments for severe Viral and Treatments for severe Viral and Bacterial MeningitisBacterial Meningitis

~To treat fevers, you are given medicine such as:~To treat fevers, you are given medicine such as: TylenolTylenol FluidsFluids room ventilation. room ventilation. If you have a severe fever, you may also need a If you have a severe fever, you may also need a

device like a cooling pad placed on your bed along device like a cooling pad placed on your bed along with all of the other fever treatments. with all of the other fever treatments.

Treatments for Severe Viral and Treatments for Severe Viral and Bacterial Meningitis Bacterial Meningitis

~If your main symptoms are ~If your main symptoms are seizures, your seizures, your environment will be kept environment will be kept very:very:

silent and calm. silent and calm. ~You will than receive ~You will than receive

medicines that include:medicines that include: Phenobarbital or Dilantin. Phenobarbital or Dilantin. ~If you are having trouble ~If you are having trouble

breathing, you will than breathing, you will than receive oxygen therapy. receive oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy Oxygen therapy increases the amount of increases the amount of oxygen you are oxygen you are receiving. The oxygen receiving. The oxygen may be received by a may be received by a hood or a tent. Than, hood or a tent. Than, there is a face mask that there is a face mask that is positioned over the is positioned over the mouth and nose. mouth and nose.

Treatments for Severe Viral and Treatments for Severe Viral and Bacterial MeningitisBacterial Meningitis

On top of all of these On top of all of these treatments, numerous treatments, numerous blood tests are blood tests are received to the patient received to the patient to measure essential to measure essential body chemicals (such body chemicals (such as sodium and blood as sodium and blood sugar). sugar).

Someone with a severe case of meningitis might need to be treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital (ICU). What will happen there is that the doctors will keep a close eye on the person, and they will provide them with care if required.

Recoveries/PrognosisRecoveries/Prognosis

With viral With viral meningitis, meningitis, usually nearly all usually nearly all people recover. people recover. •For bacterial meningitis, nearly 70

to 80 percent recover.

•The patients recovery can change the outcome of the recovery, depending on age and the health.

Recoveries/Prognosis People normally make a

complete recovery, although, meningitis that usually is the bacterial form, can cause after effects. Some of these after effects are permanent and physically disabling. Some other after effects includes distressing the individual emotionally.

After Effects of Older Children After Effects of Older Children and Adults and Adults

Children who are older and adults may go through: Children who are older and adults may go through: TirednessTiredness LazinessLaziness SluggishnessSluggishness recurring headachesrecurring headaches difficulty in concentrationdifficulty in concentration memory lossmemory loss ClumsinessClumsiness balance problemsbalance problems DepressionDepression AggressionAggression mood swingsmood swings learning difficultieslearning difficulties hearing losshearing loss brain damagebrain damage EpilepsyEpilepsy change in eyesight. change in eyesight.

After Effects of Infants After Effects of Infants and Young Childrenand Young Children~Some minor after effects ~Some minor after effects

from meningitis in infants from meningitis in infants and young children include:and young children include:

babyish behaviorbabyish behavior forgetting recently learned forgetting recently learned

skillsskills temper tantrumstemper tantrums reverting to bed-wettingreverting to bed-wetting insomnia insomnia

PreventionPrevention

Get the vaccine!Get the vaccine!

Wash hands regularly!

Reheating chilled foods before use!

Avoid people who have it!

PreventionPrevention Avoid insects by using Avoid insects by using

insect repellent. Avoid insect repellent. Avoid rodents by keeping an rodents by keeping an eye out, and get ride eye out, and get ride of them right away if of them right away if you find or suspect you find or suspect them. them.

Avoid insects and rodents that can carry organisms that may create meningitis.

Those insects and rodents include: mosquitoes, ticks, mice, and rats.

Works CitedWorks Cited "Get the Facts About Meningitis." "Get the Facts About Meningitis." VOICES OF MENINGITIS™VOICES OF MENINGITIS™. Web. 17 Apr. . Web. 17 Apr.

2011. <http://www.voicesofmeningitis.com/get-the-facts-the-basics.html>.2011. <http://www.voicesofmeningitis.com/get-the-facts-the-basics.html>. Jewell, Eleanor. "When Was Meningitis First Discovered? | EHow.com." Jewell, Eleanor. "When Was Meningitis First Discovered? | EHow.com." EHow EHow

| How to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life | | How to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life | EHow.comEHow.com. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/about_5234584_meningitis-first-discovered_.html>.<http://www.ehow.com/about_5234584_meningitis-first-discovered_.html>.

"Meningitis, What Is Meningitis?" "Meningitis, What Is Meningitis?" Illinois Department of Public Health Home Illinois Department of Public Health Home PagePage. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbmening.htm>.<http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbmening.htm>.

"Meningitis- What Is Meningitis? - Meningitis Overview." "Meningitis- What Is Meningitis? - Meningitis Overview." WebMD Children's WebMD Children's Health Center - Kids Health and Safety Information for a Healthy ChildHealth Center - Kids Health and Safety Information for a Healthy Child. . Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/tc/meningitis-Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/tc/meningitis-topic-overview>.topic-overview>.

"Meningitis." "Meningitis." Wikipedia, the Free EncyclopediaWikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 May 2011. . Web. 01 May 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningitis>.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningitis>.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Meningitis - MayoClinic.com." Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Meningitis - MayoClinic.com." Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic. Web. 01 May . Web. 01 May 2011. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118>.2011. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118>.

"What Causes Meningitis?" "What Causes Meningitis?" EhealthMDEhealthMD. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://ehealthmd.com/library/meningitis/MG_causes.html>.<http://ehealthmd.com/library/meningitis/MG_causes.html>.