Download Meningitis

Kris Bakkum
Kari Svihovec
BrainU 202
2012
MENINGITIS
True or False?
1. Meningitis is caused by either a virus or a
2.
3.
4.
5.
form of bacteria.
Viral meningitis causes more fatalities than
bacterial meningitis.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the spinal
cord.
Symptoms of meningitis may include fever,
chills, headache, and a stiff neck.
There are treatments available for all causes
of meningitis.
Definition of Meningitis
 An inflammation of the meninges (protective
membranes surrounding the central nervous
system)
Causes of Meningitis
Fungal Meningitis
Parasitic Meningitis
 Caused by Cryptococcus
 Caused by N. fowerli
types of fungus
 Affects people with
immune deficiencies, such
as AIDS, leukemia…
 Generally mild or less
severe when compared to
other forms of meningitis
 Parasite is typically found
in warm, freshwater
sources
 Very rare
 Usually fatal
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Causes of Meningitis
Non-Infectious Meningitis
Viral Meningitis
 Caused by trauma to the
 Caused by viruses
nervous system
 Trauma may result from
 Drug use
 Cancers
 Head injury
 Brain surgery
 Severity depends upon
underlying health
condition
 Enteroviruses
 Small viruses made of RNA +
protein
 Mumps
 Herpes
 Generally mild or less
severe when compared to
other forms of meningitis
Causes of Meningitis
Bacterial Meningitis
 Caused by Haemophilus, Streptococcus , or
and Listeria types of bacteria
 The type of bacteria causing the infection is
dependant upon the age of the individual
 Usually severe
sitemaker.umich.edu
 Fatalities occur among 20-25% of all individuals
affected
Diagnosis of Meningitis
 Testing of
 Blood
 Crossing of BB barrier
 Cerebrospinal Fluid
 PCR for Viral Meningitis
 Diagnosis of exclusion for
non-infectious forms
Risk Factors of Meningitis
 Age
 Infants or young are at a higher risk
 Setting
 Spreads quickly among large groups of people
(colleges, military, religious pilgrimages)
 Medical conditions that weaken immune
system
 Travel to Sub-Saharan Africa
Symptoms of Meningitis


Fever
Chills
Nausea
Vomiting
Photophobia
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Agitation
Confusion
Rapid breathing
Bulging fontanelles in children
Decreased consciousness
Temporary or permanent hearing loss
Sepsis resulting in organ failure or loss of limbs

Symptoms may last 2-4 weeks
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Neural effects of Meningitis
 Inflammation of membranes surrounding brain and spinal cord
 Compression of brain decreases synaptic activity








Hearing or speech loss
Blindness
Permanent brain and nerve damage
Behavioral changes
Reduced cognitive abilities
Loss of muscle control
Seizures
Memory loss
 Increased pressure on brain forces it through foramen magnum,
resulting in an increased pressure placed upon brainstem


Breathing stops
Death
Long-Term Effects of Meningitis
 Patients may require
 Long-term care
 Extensive therapy
 Support in educational settings
Treatment of Meningitis

Fungal


Parasitic



Treat the symptoms
Treat the underlying condition (cancer)
Viral



Several drugs are successful in laboratory settings only
Almost always fatal to infected individuals
Non-infectious



Long course of IV Anti-fungal medication
Time (usually 7-10 days)
Treatment of symptoms
Bacterial


Appropriate antibiotics based upon type of bacterial infection
People in contact with infected individuals are often treated as well
Prevention of Meningitis
 Standard Immunizations
 Standard hygiene practices
 Avoid contact with infected individuals
Focuses of Current Meningitis Research
 Control of immune response due to the infection
 Clinical
 Vaccine development
 Optimizing treatment
 Timing of treatment
 Strategy of drug administration
 Cost-effective treatment options for areas with
limited resources
 Recovery
 “Neuroprotective” compounds that can block
accumulating damage after meningal inflammation
True or False
1. Meningitis is caused by either a virus or a
form of bacteria.
2. Viral meningitis causes more fatalities than
bacterial meningitis.
3. Meningitis is an inflammation of the spinal
cord.
4. Symptoms of meningitis may include fever,
chills, headache, and a stiff neck.
5. There are treatments available for all causes
of meningitis.
Resources
 Centers for Disease Control and Protection
 Hearing Research Trust, UK
 Meningitis Research Foundation
 National Meningitis Association
 David R. Boulware, M.D., MPH, DTM&H