What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the meninges (membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord) and can be caused by different agents, such as bacteria or viruses. In some rare cases, it can result from drug reactions, parasites, fungi or other systemic diseases.
Are there different types of meningitis?
yes. Meningitis is characterized according to the agent that causes the infection. A distinction should be made between the different strains:
- Viral meningitis: the most common and tend to be less severe and which are caused by viruses such as enteroviruses
- bacterial meningitis: the bacteria most frequently involved are Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus); Haemophilus influenzae type B was a very common agent prior to the introduction of the vaccine in the National Vaccination Program; these infections are usually serious and can be Fatal fungal meningitis: rarer and can occur from inhalation of fungi in the environment; usually patients with diabetes, cancer or infection with the virus HIV are most at risk
- meningitis caused by parasites, which are important in some countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin
What is the most common type of meningitis?
The most common type is viral meningitis, followed by bacterial meningitis and, less commonly, meningitis caused by fungi or parasites.
How is viral meningitis characterized?
Viral meningitis is a transmissible infectious disease, characterized by infection of the meninges by a virus, the most common being enterovirus.
What are the symptoms of viral meningitis?
General symptoms of any type of meningitis may include the following:
- fever
- severe headache
- nausea and vomiting
- irritability
- Mental confusion
- state of extreme tiredness
- psychomotor agitation
- neck stiffness
- Seizures
- skin rashes (petechiae)
In babies, meningitis can manifest itself by:
- fever
- irritability
- poor appetite, drowsiness, or difficulty waking up from sleep
- weakness
How is viral meningitis transmitted?
Transmission of viral meningitis by enterovirus occurs mostly by fecal-oral dissemination, but other viruses are transmitted through secretions from the nose or saliva.
How is the disease diagnosed?
The diagnosis of viral meningitis is made through:
- clinical examination with signs suggestive of meningitis
- Blood tests
- cerebrospinal fluid tests which require a lumbar puncture (in the case of viral meningitis, lumbar puncture can relieve symptoms)
Who is most at risk of infection?
Some people have a higher risk of getting the disease:
- Children under 5 years old
- people with a weakened immune system caused by diseases, medications, such as chemotherapy, and recent organ or bone marrow transplants
- Infants under 1 month of age
Is it possible to prevent viral meningitis?
You should take several steps to prevent the transmission of the viruses that cause viral meningitis:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after changing diapers, using the toilets, or coughing/blowing your nose
- Avoid touching your face with dirty hands
- Avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing glasses or cooking utensils with sick people
- cough or sneeze into a tissue or forearm and not into your hands
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick
- Vaccination against some viruses, especially if you are going to travel to some countries
- protection against insect bites, if you are traveling to countries where insects transmit diseases
What are the complications of viral meningitis?
Most people who have viral meningitis recover within a few weeks, although there may be cases that develop some complications, such as:
- brain damage, with consequent difficulty in learning or development of the child
- hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) or myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
What is the treatment for viral meningitis?
There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis, so treatment is usually directed at the symptoms caused by the disease by taking medication to relieve symptoms.
My child has a classmate at school/kindergarten who has been diagnosed with meningitis. What should I do?
If the diagnosis of viral meningitis is confirmed, you only need to follow the instructions given by the attending physician.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS)