Meningitis

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This condition can be caused by several different organisms such as bacteria and viruses.

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is more common and usually occurs in the late Summer and early Fall. Sometimes, abdominal discomfort, chest pain, or a rash will be present. The central nervous system may be involved with possible alteration of consciousness or paralysis; however, these more serious conditions are infrequent. Most cases of viral meningitis run a short, uneventful course. Since this is a virus (like the common cold), antibiotics are not effective. Likewise, persons who have had contact with viral meningitis patients do not require any treatment.

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a rare disease, but can be very serious and requires treatment with antibiotics. It can occur sporadically throughout the year. The rest of this brochure is about bacterial meningitis.

One form of bacterial meningitis is meningococcal meningitis. This form can cause very grave illness. It requires early diagnosis and treatment. Untreated meningococcal infection can be fatal.

How Are Individuals Infected With Meningococcal Meningitis?

Approximately 5% to 10% of the general population carry the meningococcal bacteria in the nose and throat in a harmless state. This carrier state may last for days or months and seems to give those individuals who harbor meningococcal in their upper respiratory tract some protection from actually developing the disease state.

During epidemics of meningococcal meningitis, the carrier rate may approach 95% , yet less than 1% may develop the disease. This low occurrence of illness after exposure suggests that an individual's health status (the strength or weakness of the immune system), rather than bacterial factors, plays an important determining role.

Meningococcal bacteria cannot usually live for more than a few minutes outside the body. They are usually not transmitted in water supplies, swimming pools, or by routine contact in classrooms, dining rooms, bars, restrooms, etc., where an infected individual has been. Meningococcal bacteria is transmitted through the direct exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (coughing & kissing, sharing unwashed eating utensils).

How Many Meningococcal Meningitis Cases Occur Each Year?

The annual occurrence rate of meningococcal disease in the United States is 2.2 per 100,000. 1/3 of these cases are in children under the age of 5. Average mortality rates vary between 5% and 15% with early recognition and treatment being the crucial variables.

What Makes Meningococcal Meningitis So Dangerous?

Meningococcal meningitis can be particularly dangerous for two fundamental reasons:

It is relatively rare. Therefore, we may not consider the possibility of contracting meningitis and may ignore early symptoms and signs.

It can be deceptive. A person may experience minor cold symptoms for a few days and then progress to severe meningococcal disease in a relatively short period of time.

In the rare instances when the meningococcus organism invades the bloodstream, it can be carried to other organs including the eyes, heart, lungs, and the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

What Are The Usual Symptoms And Signs Of Meningococcal Meningitis?

Meningococcal meningitis can cause an individual to become very ill. Understanding the characteristic symptoms and signs is critical and could be lifesaving.

Consult with a physician or go to an emergency room immediately if you have a fever greater than 101 º and a severe sudden headache accompanied by mental changes, neck/back stiffness, or rashes.

What Is The Treatment For Meningococcal Meningitis?

Treatment includes hospitalization and isolation of the individual with meningococcal meningitis. Specific antibiotic treatment begins immediately.

Persons who have had intimate or direct exposure to a meningococcal meningitis patient within seven days of illness are at a higher risk for contracting meningococcal meningitis and should receive prophylactic medication such as Rifampin and Ciprofloxacin. Intimate or direct exposure includes being touched or kissed, sharing unwashed eating utensils, or by droplet contamination from nose, throat, or any secretions or excretions from the body of the infected individual.

Is There A Vaccine To Reduce The Risk Of Meningitis?

Yes, in February 2005, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommended a new vaccine for use in the US to prevent meningitis. A previous version of the meningitis vaccine was first available in 1982. The old vaccine required booster doses every 3-5 years. The new vaccine protects against the same types of bacteria as the older vaccine (A, C, Y and W-135). The new vaccine will not require booster doses. Neither the new or the old meningitis vaccine protects against type B which accounts for two-thirds of all meningococcal disease in infants and one-third of cases in adolescents. Neither vaccine protects against viral meningitis.

Should College Students Get The Meningitis Vaccine?

Yes. The CDC recommends the meningitis vaccine for: