Meningitis

Meningitis

Causes of meningitis

Infectious or non-infectious diseases can cause meningitis. Meningitis can be caused by various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Aseptic (non-infectious) meningitis can be caused by conditions that produce inflammation of bodily tissues without infections, such as Behçet’s disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (Kumar, 2021). Aseptic meningitis can be caused by various medications, the most prevalent of which are NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, and antibiotics, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Different forms of meningitis

There are different forms of meningitis. The most common types are bacterial and viral forms of meningitis. Other types include Fungal meningitis, parasitic meningitis, and chronic meningitis, which lasts more than one month (Kumar, 2021). Besides, there is non-infectious meningitis resulting from treatments or underlying medical conditions.

The potential severity of the disease

If not treated promptly, meningitis can be fatal. It can result in septicemia, which is life-threatening and permanent nerve or brain damage. The cause determines the prognosis for meningitis. Bacterial meningitis has a significant mortality rate if left untreated (Kumar, 2021). Even with proper treatment, bacterial meningitis has a fatality rate of roughly 15-20%, with a higher mortality rate related to advancing age.

Prevention of meningitis

The typical steps to prevent meningitis include washing hands to prevent spreading infections, practicing good hygiene such as avoiding sharing straws and drinks, staying healthy through exercising and eating fruits, whole grains, and vegetables besides covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing and for pregnant mothers avoiding intake of foods rich in calories and fats (Miselli et al., 2022). Moreover, vaccinations to prevent bacterial meningitis such as Hib, PCV13, PPSV23, and meningococcal conjugate vaccines.         

Meningitis in neonates

Because of their immature humoral and cellular immune systems, neonates are more vulnerable to sepsis and meningitis. Hence, they are more susceptible to bacterial infection than other types of infections, such as fungal, viral, or parasitic (Bundy & Noor, 2018).

References

Bundy, L. M., & Noor, A. (2018). Neonatal meningitis.

Kumar, R. (2021). Meningitis. Himalayan Journal of Health Sciences, 33-47. https://doi.org/10.22270/hjhs.v6i4.117

Miselli, F., Lugli, L., Bedetti, L., Zinani, I., & Berardi, A. (2022). Early-onset meningitis with delayed presentation: Is there a role for prevention?. EClinicalMedicine, 45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101312

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Differentiate between the causes of meningitis.
Include the different forms of Meningitis

Meningitis

Discuss the potential severity of the disease.
Explain how meningitis can be prevented.
Discuss why meningitis in neonates is usually caused by different organisms than adult forms.