Slow-growing organisms such as fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis that invade the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain cause chronic meningitis.
Chronic meningitis develops over two weeks or more. The signs and symptoms of chronic meningitis — headache, fever, vomiting and mental cloudiness — are similar to those of acute meningitis. Fungal meningitis is relatively uncommon in the United States. It may mimic acute bacterial meningitis.
It's often contracted by breathing in fungal spores that may be found in soil, decaying wood and bird droppings. Fungal meningitis isn't contagious from person to person. Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal form of the disease that affects people with immune deficiencies, such as AIDS. It's life-threatening if not treated with an antifungal medication. Even with treatment, fungal meningitis may recur. Parasites can cause a rare type of meningitis called eosinophilic meningitis. Parasitic meningitis can also be caused by a tapeworm infection in the brain cysticercosis or cerebral malaria.
Amoebic meningitis is a rare type that is sometimes contracted through swimming in fresh water and can quickly become life-threatening. The main parasites that cause meningitis typically infect animals. People are usually infected by eating foods contaminated with these parasites. Parasitic meningitis isn't spread between people.
Meningitis can also result from noninfectious causes, such as chemical reactions, drug allergies, some types of cancer and inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis. Meningitis complications can be severe. The longer you or your child has the disease without treatment, the greater the risk of seizures and permanent neurological damage, including:.
Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine. The CDC recommends that a single dose be given to children ages 11 to 12, with a booster shot given at age If the vaccine is first given between ages 13 and 15, the booster is recommended between ages 16 and If the first shot is given at age 16 or older, no booster is necessary.
This vaccine can also be given to children between the ages of 2 months and 10 years who are at high risk of bacterial meningitis or who have been exposed to someone with the disease. These people are given antibiotics until doctors are sure that they do not have bacterial meningitis Acute Bacterial Meningitis Acute bacterial meningitis is rapidly developing inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord meninges and of the fluid-filled space between the meninges subarachnoid They are also given acyclovir an antiviral drug in case the meningitis is due to HSV or varicella-zoster infection.
These drugs prevent HIV a retrovirus from reproducing and multiplying inside human cells. Almost always, people need to take a combination of several antiretroviral drugs. People must take these drugs for the rest of their life. If the cause is HSV or varicella-zoster infection, acyclovir is continued. For most of the other viruses that commonly cause meningitis, there are no effective drugs.
However, if people have a normal immune system, they almost always recover from these infections on their own. Symptoms are also treated. For example, acetaminophen , taken by mouth or suppository inserted into the rectum , can reduce fever.
Pain relievers analgesics , taken as needed, can help control headache. Most people who have viral meningitis recover within a few weeks. Occasionally, recovery can take months, as sometimes occurs when meningitis is caused by West Nile virus or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world.
The Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Transmission of viral meningitis. Test your knowledge. More Content. Viral Meningitis By John E. Tissues Covering the Brain Within the skull, the brain is covered by three layers of tissue called the meninges.
The most common cause of viral meningitis is. Enteroviruses tend to reside in the digestive tract. Infections are very contagious. Viral meningitis can be spread in several ways, depending on the virus:. How to catch meningitis Anyone can be affected by meningitis and septicaemia, but there are certain factors which may put you at greater risk.
Meningitis symptoms and at-risk groups Meningitis and septicaemia often happen together. What is meningitis? After meningitis Meningitis can strike quickly, but its impact can last a lifetime. Viral meningitis is rarely life-threatening, but can leave you with lifelong after-effects. The research helps highlight the importance of rapid treatment. Across all age groups, Overall about 1 person out of every 10 who catch the disease dies of it 9.
This new study shows that for most of those who die of this leading cause of meningitis, the disease comes on suddenly and advances rapidly, with a very limited time window to administer life-saving treatment, underlining the importance of prevention.
Meningitis Research Foundation MRF will use the data to continue to advocate for prevention by vaccination as one of the key ways to defeat meningitis, due to the window for treatment being so short. The charity has called for new vaccines, better access, and greater coverage, alongside knowledge of the signs and symptoms to ensure people get quicker diagnosis and treatment. Meningitis is feared, and with good reason as this new study confirms time is of the essence when treating meningitis.
Sadly, we know of many families who have lost loved ones within hours. Early symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell.
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