SPINAL MENINGITISCianne Schipper

WHAT IS SPINAL MENINGITIS?

SPINAL MENINGITIS• Is an infection of the fluid and membranes around the:

• brain and the • spinal chord.

WHAT CAN IT DO?• Spinal meningitis can spread rapidly throughout the body• Without treatment it can cause brain damage in a matter

of hours and can be fatal within 24 hours.• It can also:• Cause kidney failure,• Create learning disabilities,• Cause hearing loss, blindness,• Cause limb damage (fingers, toes, arms, legs) that can require amputation,• Comas,• And convulsions.

BACTERIAL OR VIRAL?Spinal meningitis can be caused by bacteria and viruses. Most times

viruses develop into spinal meningitis, and several bacteria's can lead to it.

BACTERIAL OR VIRAL?• Bacterial meningitis is usually severe.• Some of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis in the

U.S include:• Haemophilus influenzae (most often caused by type b,

Hib),• Streptococcus pneumoniae, • Listeria monocytogenes,• Neisseria meningitidis.

BACTERIAL OR VIRAL• Viral meningitis is usually less severe and goes away without specific

treatment.• Most viral meningitis cases in the United States, are caused by

enteroviruses; however, only a small number of people with enterovirus infections actually develop meningitis.

• Viral infections that can lead to meningitis include:• Mumps• Herpes• Viruses spread through mosquitoes and other insects• And in rare cases LCMV (lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) which is spread

by rodents.

INCREASED CHANCE Factors that can lead to contracting spinal meningitis

VIRAL MENINGITIS• It usually isn’t normal to catch meningitis from someone

who developed it from another virus.• It is however possible to get the virus that lead to

meningitis, although it is very rare that that virus would develop into viral meningitis again.• Viral meningitis occurs mostly in children younger than

age 5.• A weakened immune system can also contribute to viral

meningitis.

BACTERIAL MENINGITIS• Factors that can increase your risk of bacterial meningitis include but arte

not limited to:• Age

• Infants are at higher risk for bacterial meningitis than people in other age groups. However, people of any age are at risk. Chart that follows shows age and risk.

• Community setting• Infectious diseases tend to spread more quickly where larger groups of

people gather together. College students living in dormitories and military personnel are at increased risk

• Travel• Travelers to the meningitis belt in sub-Saharan Africa may be at risk.

BACTERIAL MENINGITISAge Group CausesNewborns Group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Listeria

monocytogenesInfants and Children

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae type b

Adolescents and Young Adults

Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae

Older Adults Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes

SYMPTOMSSymptoms usually don’t show up until 10-14 days after the

infection takes place

SYMPTOMS IN ADULTSSYMPTOMS IN ADULTS DIFFER FROM THOSE IN CHILDREN

• Light sensitivity• Drowsiness• Fatigue• Headache• Fever

• Joint aches and pains• Muscle spasms• Pain that radiates

from the spine• Seizures

• Stiff neck and back• Sweating • Vomiting• Weight loss

SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN• A blank starring

expression• A dislike of being

touched or handled• A high

pitched/moaning cry• Arching back

• Fever with cold hands and feet• Fretfulness• Lethargy or

difficulty waking up• Pale blotchy skin

color

• Refusal to eat• Vomiting• Whimpering• Wont sit down or

stand because it hurts.

CAUSESSpinal meningitis is usually caused by a bacteria, and

occasionally a virus.

DIAGNOSIS• If meningitis is suspected, samples of blood or

cerebrospinal fluid (near the spinal cord) are collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. It is important to know the specific cause of meningitis because that helps doctors understand how to treat the disease, and possibly how bad it will get.

• antibiotics can help prevent severe illness and reduce the spread of infection from person to person.

TREATMENT• Bacterial meningitis can be treated effectively with antibiotics. It is

important that treatment be started as soon as possible. They can reduce the risk of dying to below 15%, although the risk remains higher among young infants and the elderly.

• You can prevent spinal meningitis with the proper vaccine schedule.• There are vaccines for three types of bacteria that can cause meningitis: • Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), • Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), • and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

REFERENCES• www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html

• www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html

• https://www.cedars-Sinai.edu/patients/health-conditions/sinal-meningitis.aspx