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During the World Youth Day, an Italian journalist died of a heart attack, and another Italian pilgrim died of meningitis. The disease is contagious, so some WYD participants are concerned about their health. A spokeswoman for the Sanepid – Elżbieta Kuras appeared on Radio Kraków to dispel these fears. The Italian woman lived in Poland with her family, and the people she had contact with were treated with antibiotics. How does meningitis occur and how does it manifest itself?
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1/ 7 What is meningitis?
Meningitis is the result of the entry of microorganisms into the cerebrospinal fluid through the blood or the transition from contaminated sites during cranial trauma (e.g. fracture of the skull base) or in the course of otitis media or sinusitis. In health conditions, the cerebrospinal fluid is sterile. The disease affects the meninges, in particular the soft and subarachnoid and subarachnoid space, and in some cases the brain may also be affected, then this condition is referred to as meningitis and encephalitis.
2/ 7 How is it infected?
Most often it happens as a result of close contact with a sick person or a person carrying the given bacteria. The nasopharyngeal carrier of these bacteria is characteristic of the main pathogens causing meningitis. Bacteria enter the body by sneezing, kissing or through objects (shared glass, cutlery, drinking from one bottle, etc.).
3/ 7 Types of meningitis
Meningitis is divided into bacterial, viral and fungal. Bacterial meningitis, especially purulent forms, are diseases with a worse prognosis and a higher risk of complications or death than viral meningitis. Bacterial inflammations account for about half of all meningitis, and 90 percent of them are purulent infections. Annually, three cases per 100 are diagnosed in Poland. population.
4/ 7 Symptoms of meningitis
The course of meningitis is similar regardless of the type of bacteria causing the infection. Most often, after 2–5 days after infection, the following symptoms appear: high fever (up to 400 ° C, with chills), muscle and joint pain, severe headache and neck pain, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck. In severe course: disturbances of consciousness (including loss of consciousness), convulsions, somnolence, apathy.
5/ 7 What is the risk of meningitis?
The consequence of a history of purulent bacterial meningitis may be neurological complications, such as: epilepsy, brain abscesses, paresis or paralysis of the limbs, deafness or hearing impairment, speech disorders or personality disorders. In the course of this type of meningitis, high mortality is also observed – approx. 20 percent, especially in the case of infections with staphylococcus aureus.
6/ 7 How is meningitis diagnosed?
One of the indicators of diagnosis is the clinical picture, but the type of bacteria causing meningitis must be determined very quickly in order to apply the appropriate treatment. The basic examination in this case is the examination of the cerebrospinal fluid collected during the lumbar puncture. On the basis of the image of the fluid, it is possible to determine whether the inflammation is bacterial or viral, in addition, after performing microbiological tests, it is possible to identify the etiological factor and to which antibiotics it is susceptible to. The following tests are helpful in establishing the diagnosis: computed tomography of the head, blood cultures and throat swabs.
7/ 7 Treatment of meningitis
If bacterial meningitis is suspected, an intravenous antibiotic should be started as soon as possible. In addition, treatment is also limited to the administration of anti-inflammatory and anti-edema drugs (preventing swelling of the brain). The patient must remain in bed for at least 2-3 weeks. In some situations, after close contact with a patient with purulent meningitis caused by meningococcus or Haemophilus influenzae, it is possible to use the so-called post-exposure chemoprophylaxis – single administration of an antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, rifapmicin or ceftriaxone). Such management reduces the risk of disease in unvaccinated people who have very close contact with the sick person. Additionally, when caring for a patient with bacterial meningitis (especially meningococcal infections), face masks and gloves should be used, and hands should be washed after contact with the patient or his secretions.