Disease Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membrane or the membranes covering the brain and nervous supported. Meningitis can be caused by various organisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungus that spreads into the blood and move into the brain fluid.

Patients suspected of having meningitis should be made an accurate examination, both were caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi. This is necessary for the specification of treatment, because each will receive therapy as the cause.

Causes of Meningitis Disease

Meningitis caused by a virus usually not dangerous, will recover without treatment and specific treatment. However, bacterial meningitis can result in serious condition, such as brain damage, hearing loss, lack of ability to learn, can even cause death. While meningitis is caused by the fungus is very rare, this type of person who generally suffered damaged immune (immune system) as in people with AIDS.

Bacteria that can cause meningitis attack include:
1. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
These bacteria are the most common cause of meningitis in infants or children. This type of bacteria that can cause infection pneumonia, ear and nasal cavity (sinus).

2. Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus).
This bacteria is the cause of the majority after Streptococcus pneumoniae, meningitis caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract which the bacteria enter the bloodstream.

3. Haemophilus influenzae (Haemophilus).
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a type of bacteria that can cause meningitis. This strain as the cause upper respiratory infections, middle ear and sinuses. Giving the vaccine (Hib vaccine) has shown a decrease in the number of meningitis cases caused by bacteria of this type.

4. Listeria monocytogenes (listeria).
This is one type of bacteria that can cause meningitis. These bacteria can be found in many places, in the dust and in contaminated food. These foods are usually the type of cheese, hot dogs and sandwich meat which is derived from bacteria of local animals (pets).

5. Other bacteria can also cause meningitis are Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis Disease

Symptoms are typical and commonly displayed by sufferers of meningitis over the age of 2 years are fever, headache and neck muscle stiffness that lasted for hours or felt up to 2 days. Other signs and symptoms are photophobia (fear / avoid bright beam of light), phonophobia (fear / disturbed by a loud voice), nausea, vomiting, often looking confused, trouble to wake up from sleep, even unconscious.

In infants the symptoms and signs of meningitis disease may be very difficult to know, but generally the baby will look weak and quiet (not active), shivering, vomiting and was reluctant to breastfeed.

Handling and Meningitis Disease Treatment

If there are signs and symptoms as above, then the patient was taken immediately to a hospital intensive health ministers. Physical examination, including examination labratorium blood test (elektrolite, liver and kidney function, as well as complete blood), and X-ray examination (x-rays) will help the team pulmonary physician in diagnosing disease. Meanwhile, a very important examination when the patient has suspected meningitis were Lumbar puncture examination (examination of the fluid lining of the brain).

If based on the examination of patients diagnosed as meningitis, antibiotics are the infusion (intravenous) is a good step to ensure recovery and reduce or avoid the risk of complications. Antibiotics are given to patients depending on the type of bacteria found.

The few antibiotics that are often prescribed by doctors in cases of meningitis caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis among others Cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime). While meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria will be given Ampicillin, Vancomycin and Carbapenem (meropenem), chloramphenicol or Ceftriaxone.

Treatment or other therapy that leads to the symptoms that arise, such as headaches and fever (paracetamol), shock and convulsions (diazepam) and others.

Tertularnya Disease Prevention Meningitis

Meningitis caused by a virus can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing eating 1 tablespoon, use a toothbrush with and smoking alternately in one trunk. So for those of you who know someone or have someone around this type of meningitis must be careful. Mancuci clean hands before eating and after general ketoilet, holding pets. Maintaining stamina (endurance) body with nutritious eating and regular exercise is very good to avoid various diseases.

Giving the vaccine immunization (vaccine) Meningitis is a particularly appropriate action is known areas prone to outbreaks of meningitis, as for the vaccine which has been known as a precaution against meningitis among others are;
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)