Meningitis, Research Paper Example

Many people all around the world each year contact a disease called meningitis. A present-day period is characterized by steadfast growth interest to this disease, and ways to prevent it. This research paper investigates meningitis, its symptoms, and ways to cure and prevent the disease by responding to the following questions:

1. What is meningitis?
2. What are the symptoms of meningitis?
3. How does meningitis transmit?
4. How to prevent meningitis?
5. What organs and / or organ systemsare affectedin meningitis?
6. What is the cure of meningitis?

Answering these six questions will help to investigate  meningitis, and the ways of dealing with it.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is “an infection of the meninges, the paper-thin membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord” (Goldsmith 8). This disease is most common in children “between birth and two years old” (Goldsmith 41) and young adults. Macnair underlines that there two main kinds of meningitis. They are viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. Viral or aseptic meningitis is the disease caused by “enteroviruses, such as coxsackieviruses and echoviruses” (Meningitis Health Article). It lasts not more than ten days. The causes of bacterial meningitis are three different kinds of bacteria. They are “S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae” (Goldsmith 41).

1. pneumoniae is thecauseof pneumonia, ear infection, sepsis and meningitis. It is most widespread cause of bacterial meningitis. On the other hand, it is the most dangerous and serious form of bacterial meningitis. This form of meningitis is the reason of neurologic problems and brain damage. Such form of bacteria always occurs during winter and spring.
2. meningitidis are the next most spread reasons of bacterial meningitis. It is the cause of meningococcal meningitis. Goldsmith pays attention that incaseN. meningitidis enter circulation of the blood, the endotoxin, which the bacteria produce, can kill during a couple of hours. The group of risk includes children, teenagers, immunosuppressive people and those people, who often travel to other countries. Meningitis Health Article and Macnair found that almost 15 percent of those people who have meningococcal meningitis die. At the same time, almost 15 percent of those, who have meningococcal meningitis, have brain damage and other problems.
3. influenzae is the lastformof bacteria, which can be the cause of bacterial meningitis. Goldsmith describes that the origin of this bacterium “known as type B or Hib” (43). Thanks to use of the Hib vaccine, the disease happens among those people, which are unvaccinated. Only three to six percent of those patients, which have this form of meningitis, die. At the same time, according to the investigation of Meningitis Health Article, up to twenty percent of “surviving patients have permanent hearing loss or other long-term sequelae”.

Meningitis Health Article describes other forms of bacterial meningitis. “Listeria monocytogenes meningitis” is among them. It may intersect the placental barrier and be the reason of early infant death or stillbirth. “Escherichia coli meningitis” (Meningitis Health Article) is another form of meningitis. It is spread among newborn and greybeard. It can be passed to the baby through the maternal passages. “Mycobacterium tuberculosis meningitis” (Meningitis Health Article) is the last form of meningitis. It is infrequent form of meningitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis meningitis happen when the bacterium reasoning tuberculosis strikes brain tunic. The article on meningitis health, published by Healthline, shows that except for viral and bacterial meningitis there can be other causes of disease. Among them there are mycotic infections, neoplastic meningitis, a reaction to some medicine and drugs, an inflammatory illness, “some types of cancer, or a traumatic injury to the head or spine”.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

“The bacteria that cause meningitis vary with a person’s age” (Macnair). There are three main symptoms of meningitis. They are “fever, stiff neck and impaired level of consciousness (such as confusion, fatigue, and irritability)” (Goldsmith 8).

The distinctive features of meningitis are rise in temperature, headache, and rigid neck. In more difficult cases, “neurologic symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, confusion and disorientation, drowsiness, sensitivity to bright light, and poor appetite” (Meningitis Health Article). When meningitis develops, patients can have convulsion and spasm.

Viral meningitis appears in hot time of the year, especially in summer. This form of meningitis is not as severe as bacterial meningitis. The danger of developing “viral meningitis is twenty times higher in infants less than one year old than among older children and adults” (Goldsmith 44). Macnair emphasizes that almost all people get better. The author underlines that “vague flu-like symptoms” appear with high temperature and pain in the muscle.

Bacterial meningitis is more severe and dangerous. There can be aftereffects of illness and even death. Macnair found that any bacteria could be the reason of bacterial meningitis. At the same time the author emphasizes that “meningococcal and pneumococcal bacteria” are most spread types of bacteria. Among two described types of bacteria, meningococcal is most spread. Goldsmith found that such form of meningococcal meningitis kill almost 25 percent of those teens and young adults who get it. Meningococcal bacteria are always “carried harmlessly in people’s noses and throats” (Macnair). It is characteristically present with “a pin-prick rash that does not fade when pressed” (Macnair). Such eruption can spread quickly to form spots all over the body. Meningococcal bacteria can be the reason of disease in case bacteria enter the wrong place. It is a life-threatening complication if bacteria enter the circulation of the blood. The author shows that “it can present alone or with meningitis”. In case it is alone it is the reason of lots deaths because of meningococcal infection.

Macnair found that in bacterial meningitis symptoms could appear during a couple of hours. However, in viral meningitis symptoms can appear in a couple of days. The onset of meningitis is usually happening over hours or days. More often meningitis is “preceded by several days of upper respiratory ailments” (Goldsmith 43) such as pharyngitis, coryza, cough and other viral infections. In that way, the viruses exhaust and weaken the organism making it toilless to enter the circulation of the blood. In a couple of days meningitis symptoms develop. Goldsmith pays attention that sometimes there can be other symptoms of meningitis. For example, once a child seems to be healthy, but in a day, the same child can be near death.

Goldsmith underlines that there are several common symptoms of meningitis in children. The author found that infants do not want to drink water. They have retching, fever, shortness of temper, apathy, and indifference. Children less one year old and older have sickness, fever, stiff, headache, retching, odd behavior and heightened sensibility to light.

Among symptoms of meningitis in babies and small children listed by Goldsmith, Macnair singles out spasmodic movements, shortness of temper, cry, groan, denial to eat, bulging fontanel, pale spotted skin, tiredness and fast breathing. Macnair found that there are many symptoms of meningitis in adults and older children. They are eruption that does not escape in case of pressing the glass on it, fever, high temperature, headache, cold feet and hands, diarrhea, myalgia, retching, spasms, stiff neck, somnolence and shortness of temper. In case of complications, in bacterial meningitis, the person can have a hearing impairment, injuries to nerves, “brain abscesses, stroke, and collections of fluid on or in the brain” (Macnair).

At the same time, in infants and small children, the symptoms of high temperature, headache, and rigid neck can be absent or difficult to discover. In such case a child may be inactive, short of temper, have retching or be feeding badly (Meningitis Health Article).

According to Meningitis Health Article early detection of meningitis is essential as symptoms can occur unexpectedly and escalate to brain damage, hearing impairment, speechlessness, or even death.

How does meningitis transmit?

According to Meningitis Health Article, some kinds of meningitis are infected and “can be spread through contact with saliva, nasal discharge, feces, or respiratory and throat secretions”. It is frequently transmitted through coughing, kissing, sharing food and water, cigarettes, lipstick, etc. In addition, meningitis can be spread through contacting with “respiratory secretions of an infected person” (Meningitis Health Article). Meningitis can be passed “by something as ordinary as sharing a cookie, a Coke, or a kiss” (9).

At the time when most bacteria are not perilous to human, other can be the cause of meningitis. “Inside the human body, harmful bacteria cause damage by releasing chemical poisons called toxins” (Goldsmith 27). Toxins enfeeble and kill person’s cells. The author emphasizes that such toxins are one cause of why bacterial meningitis is more perilous than other forms of meningitis. Goldsmith emphasizes that bacterial infections are particularly perilous in time when the bacteria penetrates the circulation of the blood. At the same time, viruses are smaller and simpler than bacteria. Viruses do not require water, food, and oxygen to survive (Goldsmith 27).

Among babies and small children, virus can be spread through stool of children who are infected. Also, the virus can be transmitted “after changing the diapers of an infected infant” (Meningitis Health Article).

Enteroviruses are most spread form of viral meningitis. The delitescence for enteroviruses is always “between 3 and 7 days from inoculation with the virus until symptoms emerge” (Meningitis Health Article). The virus can be spread to the other person starting about three days after such person is contagious for nearly ten days after symptoms become obvious. Enteroviruses are spread during autumn and summer. Right this time, many people are infected with them. However, most transmissible persons have no or have light symptoms. “The virus infects the meninges in only a small proportion of these persons” (Meningitis Health Article).

The person must visit a doctor at once in case he or she ills and have a suspicious on meningitis. Checking the person’s physical state is the first thing, which the doctor must do. The doctor makes spinal tap procedure. The questions, which may help make physical examination of the patient, are asked (Goldsmith). The doctor corroborates the diagnosis of meningitis after making a blood analysis and test, which is named “lumbar puncture” (Macnair). The lumbar puncture is made with a help of a fine needle, which the doctor insert the patient’s backbone to take out liquid. After this, the doctor examines the received liquid for infectious organisms (Macnair). The doctor sends the patient to the first-aid emergency station in case there are any suspicions on meningitis (Goldsmith).

How to prevent meningitis?

People with the weaken immune system and those who are infected with human immunodeficienct virus are at higher danger of infecting meningitis. At the same time, those children and people who do not have the possibility to be vaccinated are in higher risk of infecting meningitis (Meningitis Health Article).

Goldsmith found that the main cause for bacterial meningitis in children and babies is “absence of any natural immunity” (43). The author believes that not sleeping enough and not eating well are the things, which tire and exhaust the immune system. The author underlines that an exhausted and weaken immune system “makes easier to become infected by others” (46). This leads to the situation, when bacteria break through the layers of safety mucous. After this, the bacteria enter the circulation of the blood.

The author emphasizes the importance to eat fruits and vegetables, to sleep a lot and do muscle-strengthening exercises every day. Among listed, Goldsmith underlines the necessity of not sharing the things which touched mouth. It is indispensable to avoid sharing food, drinks and cigarettes. Except these, not washing hands can increase the risk of getting meningitis. Cover up nose and mouse with a napkin while coughing is extremely important.

Macnair emphasizes that those people who have been in close contact to the person which has bacterial meningitis, must take some antibiotics “as a preventative measure”. At the same time the author pays attention that in case a person is alarmed that someone has meningitis, or has eruption which does not disappear in case of pressing the glass on it, it is necessary to get urgent “medical advice” (Macnair).

What organs and/or organ systems are affected in meningitis?

The doctor must inspect patient’s organs and organ system for making the diagnosis. He or she must obtain a medical history of the patient. The medical history must contain a patient’s past case history and a review of activities of the previous couple of days. A medical inspection must include testing of “motor and sensory function, nerve function, hearing and speech, vision, coordination and balance, mental status, and changes in mood or behavior” (Meningitis Health Article). In addition, the doctor must evaluate a functioning of the nervous system. A report from Meningitis Health Article underlines the importance of “laboratory screening of blood, urine, and body secretions”. Such actions can help in determining spinal cord and brain infection.

According to Meningitis Health Article, meningitis always happens “with flu-like symptoms that develop over 1 to 2 days”. Meningitis can be associated with kidney and adrenal failure. Meningitis can be the reason of mortal disease. The cause of such terrible consequence is that there are several types of bacterial meningitis. At first, the bacterial meningitis causes “an upper respiratory tract infection” (Meningitis Health Article). After this, it goes to the brain through the circulation of the blood. Bacterial meningitis may also happen in time when definite bacteria enter brain tunic. In that case, bacterial meningitis prohibits blood-vessel in the brain. These cases are the causes of brain damage.

“Meningococcal infection results in widespread internal bleeding” (Goldsmith 44) which destroys human’s organs. The bacteria exhaust and weaken the heart. At the same time, the pressure on the brain can be the reason of death or coma. The author emphasizes that it is extremely difficult to survive with meningococcal infection. Many of those children, which do not die, have serious problems with health.

Mycotic infection can influence the brain. Meningitis Health Article determines that most spread form of fungal meningitis is reasoned “by Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus mainly found in dirt and bird droppings”. In its tur, Cryptococcal meningitis is most spread among patients with immunodeficiency virus. Neoplastic meningitis is a state, in which “”cancer cells spread into the meninges” (Meningitis Health Article).

What is the cure of meningitis?

For more than past twenty years health care has made a progress in searching and investigating ways to prevent and to cure meningitis. Although some types of meningitis can be averted with vaccination, it is necessary to know more to protect you, your family and friends from this “terrible disease” (Goldsmith 9). Goldsmith emphasizes that nowadays many researches on ways to prevent and cure meningitis focuses on “developing new and improving vaccines” (99). There have been some outstanding progress, but still better vaccines are necessary for curing this terrible disease.

Macnair, the author of different articles on meningitis, found that the treatment of meningitis depends on the causes of the disease. At the same time, the author underlines, that in case there are any suspicions on meningitis, the antibiotics will be started at once and goes on till the laboratory tests corroborates the bacterial form. If other causes are determined, they will be cured correspondingly.

Most people get over meningitis (Goldsmith). Some people can have some deep and serious after-effects. The author emphasizes that it can be “speech and learning disabilities, brain damage, deafness, or loss of fingers, toes, hands, and feet” (8). At the same time, Goldsmith pays attention that sometimes, even with appropriate medical care, some kinds of this disease can kill one person and cure another. The author believes that meningitis are caused by various types of perilous microorganisms (contain various viruses and bacteria). The author underlines that some kinds of bacterial meningitis can kill a person in twenty-four hours after he or she starts feeling ill. Goldsmith pays attention that a person with “meningitis caused by viruses usually is not as sick as those with bacterial meningitis” (9). At the same time, bacterial and viruses meningitis need careful medical cure.

One of the ways to cure the meningitis is to use antibiotics. Goldsmith, the author of the book about meningitis, underlines that sometimes doctors give “preventive antibiotics” (78) to those people, who have been in particularly close contact to anyone with bacterial meningitis.

Macnair believes that common vaccination save people from bacterial meningitis, “including those caused by one type of meningococcal (MenC), Haemophilus influenzae (Hib vaccine) and invasive pneumococcal disease (PCV vaccine)”.

Works Cited

Goldsmith, Connie. Meningitis. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books, 2008.

Macnair, Trisha. Meningitis. March 2009. 02 Apr. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/meningitis2.shtml>.

“Meningitis Health Article”. Healthline. N.d.. 01 Apr. 2010. <http://www.healthline.com/elseviercontent/mdconsult-meningitis>.