Chapter 6 - Meningitis

Abstract

Meningitis involves inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, usually triggering headache, fever, and neck stiffness. Viral meningitis is the most common form, at least in the United States. Bacterial meningitis is less common but much more severe than viral meningitis and can be fatal within a few hours. This form of meningitis is signified by positive CSF test, in 70%–90% of cases. Fungal meningitis is rare, but occurs most often in people with weak immune systems. Parasitic meningitis is also rare, but life-threatening, and contracted by eating contaminated food or from swimming in contaminated lakes or rivers. Risk factors for meningitis include skipping vaccinations, younger age, living in a community setting, and immune system compromise. Tuberculous meningitis is actually the most deadly form of tuberculosis and has become more prevalent because of the significant increase in AIDS. Once meningitis becomes systemic, signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sore throat, pain in the neck and back, weakness, conjunctivitis, cough, diarrhea, petechiae, rash, adenopathy, hepatitis, and splenomegaly. Viral meningitis is more common than the other forms in countries with high rates of immunizations against bacterial causes. Vaccines that help prevent bacterial meningitis include the haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13), pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23), and meningococcal conjugate vaccines.