Meningitis is an infection in the layer that encloses the spinal cord and the brain. Sometimes it is referred as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is generally cause by a bacteria or a virus. It is important to know whether the meningitis is cause by a bacteria or a virus because treatment depends on it. Viral meningitis is usually less serious and clears up on its own in a few days while bacterial meningitis can be serious and may lead to learning disabilities, hearing loss or brain damage.
It is vital for bacterial meningitis to know what type of bacteria is causing the meningitis because there are antibiotic that can prevent some types from infecting and spreading to other people. Year 1990, Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib) was the primary cause of bacterial meningitis. That is why Hib vaccine is now available and is given to all children as part of their immunizations. With the use of this vaccine, case of Hib infection is greatly lessened and so is the number of meningitis cases. To date Neisseria meningitides and Streptococcus pneumoniae is the number one cause of bacterial meningitis (Centers for Disease Control).
Bacterial Meningitis versus Viral Meningitis
As mentioned above, meningitis is usually cause by a bacteria and virus. What is the difference of this two and which one is more dangerous? Viral meningitis is generally mild and less severe than bacterial meningitis. It usually goes away in just a few weeks (one to two weeks) without treatment.
On the other hand, bacterial meningitis is more serious and it can lead to a serious condition that may result to brain damage and even death. Several kinds of bacteria can lead to meningitis but pneumococcal and meningococcal represents most of cases. Meningococcal meningitis is cause by Neisseria meningitides which affects most adults and young adults while Pneumococcal meningitis is cause by Streptococcus pneumoniae which affects most infants and newborn. This can lead to death and those who survive have high incidence of brain damage. The third cause of bacterial meningitis is Haemophilus Influenza but is now controlled with the Hib vaccine.
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics but it is vital that treatment is started early so as to prevent high incidence of death but still the risk is still high with the elderly. Fortunately there are vaccines available for bacterial meningitis and these are effective and most of all safe.
Today such condition can now be prevented through vaccine, close monitoring and disease reporting so as to prevent any outbreak of the disease; treatment of contact of cases reported and travel precautions.
As for Viral or aseptic meningitis, it is quite serious for those individual whose immune system is low. Symptoms of such diseases usually clears up within seven to ten days and patient recovers fully unlike bacterial meningitis which is quite severe and may lead to an individuals disability or death if not treated early.
Various viral infections can result to viral meningitis But most cases of viral meningitis is caused by enteroviruses. Individuals who are infected with this virus either experience no symptoms at all or gets mouth sores accompanied with low grade fever, rash or cold. Only small number of people infected with enterovirus develops meningitis. Other viral infections that may result to meningitis include influenza, measles, varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex viruses, herpes virus, and mumps.
There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis and most individuals infected recovers in their own within two weeks. Doctors just recommend medication for fever and headache, bed rest and intake of plenty of fluids. With those who have weak immune systems, admittance to a hospital may be needed.
General Symptoms of Meningitis
Some symptoms for Bacterial and viral meningitis are quite the same however bacterial meningitis is more dangerous and severe. Both adults and children who are affected with meningitis may experience the following – irritability and drowsiness, sensitivity to light, stiff neck, fever, vomiting and headache. Symptoms that you should watch out for young children as well as infants – blotchy, pale skin; poor appetite, stare blankly, vomiting, always exhausted when awake, and high pitched crying.
Diagnosing this condition includes observation of symptoms and of course lumbar puncture will have to be done to confirm the condition, a cerebrospinal fluid is extracted and the fluid is then examined.
Since viruses and bacteria produces different kind of infection thus treatment for bacterial and viral meningitis is not the same too. So if you suspect anyone in your household to have meningitis, better seek your doctor immediately so that proper treatment will be given as early as possible.