Author’s Bio: Ria Ellendula is an incoming college freshman who is passionate about public health and healthcare policy.

What Is Meningitis?

According to WebMD, Meningitis is a rare infection that affects the meninges (three membranes — the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater — that line the skull and vertebral canal and are made up of the brain and spinal cord). There are fewer than 200,000 cases in the United States per year.

Is it contagious?

While some types of meningitis are contagious, other types aren’t. For example, Fungal meningitis is not contagious as it mainly affects people with poor immune systems. Parasitic and non-infectious meningitis are not contagious. However, viral and bacterial meningitis can spread through airborne droplets.

Types of Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis can be caused by many types of bacteria, namely:

Pneumococcus
Meningococcus
Listeria monocytogenes (occurs in older people, those with immunodeficiencies, and pregnant women)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (known to infect babies and young children)

Bacterial types of meningitis enter the bloodstream through different canals, such as the sinuses, ears, and throat. After entering the bloodstream, the bacteria travels to the brain. This type of meningitis spreads by airborne droplets (coughs, sneezes, etc.)

Viral meningitis

This is a more common and less severe form of meningitis. Viruses that can trigger meningitis are known as enteroviruses. Others include herpes, HIV, mumps virus, and West Nile virus.

Fungal meningitis

This is a much less common form of meningitis that usually stems from other problems to the immune system, such as AIDS.

Parasitic meningitis

This form is rare and triggered by parasites that usually use animals as hosts. This is why it’s important to be cautious of any animals you consume. Consuming animals like snails, slugs, snakes, fish, or poultry puts you at high risk due to their susceptibility to parasites. This risk also comes with raw or undercooked food; however, it cannot be transmitted to other people.

Amoebic meningitis

This form occurs when a certain type of amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, enters the brain. It can enter the brain if you are swimming in areas where the amoeba lives, such as lakes. Although very rare, this form is usually a fatal infection.

Non-infectious meningitis

This form may be a side-effect of developing diseases such as cancer or lupus. It can also be a byproduct of head injuries, brain surgery, or certain medications. It is not contagious.

Chronic meningitis

This form of meningitis is prolonged and developed over extensive periods of time. It can take place as a result of fungal infections or mycobacteria. These organisms enter the cerebrospinal fluids surrounding the brain and skull to cause meningitis.

Meningitis Causes

It always starts from a bacterial or viral infection that occurs in a specific body part (ears, sinuses, throat, etc.)

Other causes of meningitis include:

Autoimmune disorders
Syphilis
Tuberculosis
Cancer medications

Although anyone is susceptible to meningitis, certain groups are at a much higher risk of getting infected. These groups include:

Children under 5
People aged 16-25
Adults over 55

Meningitis Symptoms

Meningitis symptoms vary based on the age of the patient and type of diagnosis.

Common symptoms include:

Confusion
Fever
Headache (can be severe)
Inability to concentrate
Seizures
Numbness in your face
Sensitivity to light
Drowsiness
Lack of appetite or thirst
Stiff neck (makes you unable to lower chin to chest)
Upset stomach/vomiting
Skin rash (occurs as a result of meningococcal meningitis)

Symptoms in infants include:

High fever
Constant crying
Poor ability to feed
Crankiness
Excessive drowsiness/sleepiness
Stiff neck or body
Bulginging on the top of the head

Meningitis Treatment

Meningitis Diagnosis

When testing to see if you have meningitis, you should inform your doctor of your medical history and perform a physical exam (neck stiffness and skin rashes can be indicators for bacterial infections)

Tests will also include:

Blood tests to identify bacteria
Spinal tap (needle will acquire fluid from spinal cord)
CT or MRI scans to locate swelling or inflammation in the head

Treatments

Hospital

In-hospital treatment is highly recommended for all cases of bacterial meningitis, as well as many types of viral meningitis.

Treatments include:

Antibiotics given directly into the vein
Fluids given to the vein to prevent dehydration
Oxygen through a face mask if there are breathing difficulties
Steroid medication to reduce brain swelling

Treatment can last anywhere from a couple of days to weeks depending on the severity of the case. If complications arise, additional treatment and long-term support may be necessary.

At home

While at home, you can cope with symptoms of meningitis by:

Getting plenty of rest
Taking painkillers for a headache or general aches
Take anti-sickness medicine for any vomiting

Meningitis Vaccine

According to the CDC, vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease, which is a bacterial form of meningitis caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. There are currently two available types of vaccines in the United States to treat these, and they are:

Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY vaccines (Menactra and Menveo)
Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccines (Bexsero and Trumenba)

The CDC has a recommended schedule for each meningitis vaccine:

11-12 year olds should receive a meningococcal conjugate vaccine with a booster dose at 16 years old.
16-23 year olds should receive a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine
Those who are 10 years or older with an increased risk for the disease should receive the vaccine

Meningitis Prevention

You can prevent meningitis by avoiding infection from a bacteria or virus. Since infections are spread by airborne droplets, there are many relatively simple steps that can be taken to prevent it in the first place.

You can:

Wash hands often (for at least 30 seconds)
Don’t share hygiene items such as toothbrushes, eating utensils, or lipstick
Don’t share foods or drinks
Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze
Stay healthy
Eat well-cooked food
Get your immunization shots

Online Doctor Consultation For Meningitis

If you or someone in your family have concerns about meningitis, please contact and seek help from our doctors online. At Home Urgent Care provides telehealth services so you can safely and confidently keep your health in check with our primary and urgent care services and get treatment online. Book an online doctor appointment today with our health care experts available at your convenience 365 days a year and get your prescription/medication available online.