Inflammation of the meninges. When it affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis; when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis, or meningitis proper.
A disease of the membranes enveloping the brain and spinal cord. Any infection of the meninges.
Inflammation of the coverings around the brain and spinal cord (Meninges).
An inflammation of the meninges of the brain.
Causing someone to have violent headaches, fever, and stiff neck muscles, and sometimes to become delirious.
Meningitis is a bacterial or viral infection of the brain. This disease causes inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, and it frequently causes damage to the brain. The infection is caused by bacteria or a virus, including Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae Type b, Klebsiella, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Infection and inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Although meningitis can occur at any age, it is especially a disease of children under five. The most common types of meningitis are caused by viruses; these are generally relatively mild, clearing up in a short period with little or no damage, though some rare forms can be more serious. Some yeasts can also cause meningitis, but these are rare.
Inflammation of the meninges, most commonly due to bacterial infection, but sometimes caused by viral or fungal infection, spreading tuberculosis, neoplasm, or chemical irritation. Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, fever, nausea, vomiting, and intolerance to light and sound, often followed by convulsions and delirium. Treatment depends on the cause; bacterial meningitis is treated by antibiotics. Viral meningitis is usually self-limited, but fungal or other forms may be more difficult to treat.
Inflammation of the membranes or meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is a relatively mild disease; bacterial meningitis is life-threatening and requires immediate treatment. Meningitis is usually caused by infections that originate elsewhere in the body and travel in the bloodstream to the brain or spinal cord.
An inflammation of the meninges due to infection by viruses or by the bacteria responsible for pneumonia, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Meningitis causes an intense headache, fever, loss of appetite, intolerance to light and sound, rigidity of muscles, especially those in the neck, and in severe cases convulsions, vomiting, and delirium leading to death. Bacterial meningitis can be effectively treated with antibiotics or sulfonamides. Viral meningitis does not respond to drugs; prolonged bed rest, darkness, and quiet is the only treatment.
Inflammation affecting the membranes of the brain or spinal cord, or usually both. Meningitis may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, malignant cells or blood (after subarachnoid haemorrhage). The term is, however, usually restricted to inflammation due to a bacterium or virus. Viral meningitis is normally a mild infection of a few days’ duration needing no treatment except pain relief. It does, however, occasionally cause encephalitis, a potentially dangerous illness and it can lead to deafness (particularly mumps). A variety of viruses can cause meningitis, including: enteroviruses; those causing mumps, influenza and herpes simplex; and HIV.
Inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain, usually but not always caused by an infectious illness. Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency that must be treated and diagnosed quickly to obtain the best outcome. It is fatal in 10% to 40% of cases, even with optimal therapy, and may result in persistent neurological injury in about 10% of patients who survive the initial infection. In the U.S., bacterial meningitis formerly affected infants and children more than adults; the demographics of the disease changed in the 1990s, after vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae were introduced into pediatric care. Infectious meningitis now is largely a disease of adults and usually is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis, although many other microbes may be responsible. Intravenous steroids (e.g., dexamethasone) given at the beginning of therapy decreases the risk of death and disability.
An inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
The swelling of the meninges (the layers enveloping the brain and spinal cord), commonly caused by an infection.
Viral meningitis often emerges in winter outbreaks and is generally less severe. On the other hand, bacterial meningitis poses a serious risk to life. It is primarily brought about by pathogens such as Haemophilus Influenzae, Streptococcus Pneumoniae, or Meningococcus of types B and C.
Typically, the infection reaches the meninges by traveling through the bloodstream from another infection site in the body, frequently originating in the nose or throat. In rarer cases, it can move through cavities in the skull from an infected ear or sinus, or enter through the air after a skull fracture.
The primary indications encompass fever, intense headache, queasiness and vomiting, sensitivity to light, and a rigid neck. In cases of viral meningitis, the symptoms are mild and might resemble those of the flu. Conversely, bacterial meningitis symptoms can escalate rapidly within a few hours, accompanied by drowsiness and sporadic episodes of unconsciousness. In approximately fifty percent of meningococcal meningitis instances, there is an additional condition known as meningococcaemia, which can be life-threatening as bacteria multiply swiftly in the bloodstream. This leads to a reddish-purple rash beneath the skin that remains visible when pressed upon. This rash emerges as small pinpoint marks that can expand, resulting in an appearance akin to bruising.
In order to establish a diagnosis, a lumbar puncture is conducted to extract a small specimen of cerebrospinal fluid.
Viral meningitis typically requires no treatment and generally resolves within one to two weeks without any lingering effects. On the other hand, bacterial meningitis demands immediate medical attention. It is managed through intravenous administration of antibiotic medications. Swift intervention commonly leads to a complete recuperation; the timelier the treatment, the more favorable the prognosis. However, in certain instances, there might be instances of hearing impairment or brain injury, or the individual might experience skin loss, or damage to fingers or toes, due to the rash.
Currently, vaccines are administered to safeguard children and adolescents from two significant strains of bacterial meningitis: those triggered by Haemophilus Influenzae and Meningococcus type C. As a precautionary step, individuals who have been exposed to these infections might also receive antibiotic medications.
Muslims undertaking the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, as well as individuals journeying to Nepal and certain regions within sub-Saharan Africa, are advised to receive immunization against specific variations of meningitis.
Inflammation of the brain’s protective layers usually results from a germ originating outside the central nervous system. If it impacts the dura mater, it’s termed pachymeningitis. When it affects the pia mater and arachnoid mater, it’s known as leptomeningitis. This condition can be further categorized based on the causing organism, how it begins, or the progression of the illness.