Meningitis: characteristics, transmission, prevention, symptoms and treatment

THE Meningitis it is part of an inflammatory process of the membrane that involves the central nervous system, especially the brain and bone marrow, it is a serious, infectious disease that can bring serious health risks.

Meningitis: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DISEASE

Our human body is covered by several organs with important functions, they are covered by a protective layer, in the nervous system this layer is called the meninges, if this organ undergoes an inflammatory process it can cause meningitis.

The disease in Brazil took large proportions, causing more than 150 thousand cases per year, in the city of Teresina that year more than 47 cases of meningitis, that is, it is a very large number, being a great alert for the disease, it is considered endemic, that is, it directly affects certain regions of Brazil and others don't.

Meningitis can be of viral origin, which is less aggravating, by fungi, which is a case that happens very rarely, and some cases of parasites and germs, the case more common is by bacteria, being more frequent in medical diagnoses, this bacterium is called meningococcus, among others, such as pneumococcus, treponema pallidum, fillerichia.

Bacterial meningitis is one of the most aggravating factors, occurring in colder times such as autumn-winter, it is extreme It is important to have a quick and accurate diagnosis, if this does not occur, there may be multiple organ failure, leading to death.

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STREAMING

Transmission can occur through the respiratory tract, air droplets and secretions from the nose and throat, some other species of bacteria can be transmitted through food, that occurs mainly in bacterial meningitis, differentiating it from other viral transmissions, viral transmission can occur through fecal-oral means, or even by a simple friendly squeeze of hands, and an important warning, it is necessary to be careful in touching objects that may have the virus contamination, because with the touch it can lead to areas of the body, such as the mouth, nose and eyes.

Meningitis caused by fungi, unlike other meningitis is not necessarily transmitted from person to person, the fungus can be absorbed through excrement left by. animals, for example pigeons and some types of birds, this fungus inhaled through the nostril enters directly into the lungs and reaches the meninges causing meningitis.

Transmission caused by parasites is more common to affect animals, in people the transmission can occur in the ingestion of contaminated food and liquid.

An interesting factor is that a person may not develop the disease and still have bacteria in their body. of the disease, that is, this person can transmit the same to other people without necessarily being infected.

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

It is extremely necessary to be vaccinated against meningitis, especially the groups at higher risk that are children under 5 years of age and the elderly who have some clinical condition chronic.

• Boys aged 11 to 14 and Girls aged 09 to 14 are the groups that need to be vaccinated with meningitis disease and HPV
• The vaccine works in two doses, the first dose for those who have never been vaccinated and the second dose for those who have already had the vaccine and need a booster
• When adolescents are properly vaccinated against meningitis, adults are indirectly protected, as the young people who are protected inhibit the transmission of the disease.
• The vaccine is usually available year-round, so there's no excuse!
• And at some times of the year it is necessary to avoid closed places with large crowds of people
• If necessary, the use of gloves and masks are important

TREATMENT:

• Treatment in case of bacterial transmission can be treated with antibiotics, but it is extremely necessary that treatment starts quickly, as this type of transmission spreads quickly and can lead to more serious complications and may even require immediate hospitalization.
• Viral meningitis is not necessarily used antiviral medication, the person is hospitalized and is accompanied in the treatment, if the case is of more serious origin, the antiviral drug may be required
• In the case of meningitis caused by fungi, antifungal drugs are used, the treatment is usually prolonged and time-consuming.
• In the case of parasitic meningitis, medications against infections and medications for alleviate the symptoms of the disease, which in most cases are quite severe, such as fever, nausea, pain head

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms can vary according to the type of virus:

• Bacterial, as mentioned, is one of the most aggravating cases, causing discomfort throughout the body, frequent nausea and vomiting without pauses, very high sensitivity to light transmitted by light bulbs or even cell phones and other electronic means, also called photophobia, with aggravation of the disease can cause convulsions, tremors, delusions, which can lead to with the
• In newborns, often because they are still small and are still developing, the symptoms may go unnoticed, but some symptoms can be observed: such as vomiting, the stimuli in some cases may not be responded to, in the baby's soft spot some elevation may be noticed, and during breastfeeding it may present refusal of milk, being a symptom of alert
• Other types of bacteria, such as meningococcal, may have some other types of symptoms, such as hands and feet. cold, tiredness for no apparent reason, diarrhea and in some cases red spots may appear all over the body

Symptoms of Viral Meningitis:

• These symptoms can closely resemble bacterial meningitis, in some cases they may have different symptoms such as: severe stiffness in the neck making it impossible to perform certain movements, irritability for no apparent reason, great drowsiness at all times, frequent fatigue, this meningitis too it affects newborn babies, also presenting imperceptible symptoms, which can be observed in the lack of energy, lack of appetite and reflexes committed

Meningitis Symptoms caused by Parasites and Fungi

• It presents the same symptoms as the others, only alerting to certain mental confusion that can happen in the individual, being a great alert for the diagnosis of the disease. Fungal meningitis, on the other hand, usually has the same symptoms.

REAFFIRMING:

• Bacterial meningitis can spread easily,
• Bacterial meningitis is the case that kills the most in recent years
• Meningitis is a preventable disease,
• Newborn babies are more susceptible to the disease
•  Unfortunately, careful bacterial meningitis can cause serious sequelae, such as hearing loss, often learning difficulties, and even serious cerebrospinal damage.