What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an all-inclusive term for swelling of the meninges, which is located at the base of the brain near the spinal cord. This swelling is most often a response to a viral infection, which usually resolves without treatment. However, bacterial meningitis is a much more serious condition that requires medical intervention.
Who is affected?
Meningitis mainly affects infants, children, and young adults, as well as older adults.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of meningitis include:
- fever and chills
- mental status changes
- nausea and vomiting
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- severe headache
- stiff neck (meningismus)
- agitation
- bulging fontanelles
- decreased consciousness
- poor feeding or irritability in children
- rapid breathing
- unusual posture, with the head and neck arched backwards (opisthotonos)
What are the complications?
- brain damage
- buildup of fluid between the skull and brain (subdural effusion)
- hearing loss
- hydrocephalus
- seizures
Please go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001700/ from the United States National Library of Medicine for more information about Meningitis.
Also, please see these pages for the following information:
Physiology
Also, please see these pages for the following information:
Physiology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Blood-Brain Barrier
- Cerebrospinal Fluid
- Meninges
Pathophysiology
- Mucosal colonization and systemic invasion
- Bacterial Virulence Factors
- Bacteremia
- Meningeal Invasion
- Bacterial Survival in subarachnoid Space
- Subarachnoid Space Inflammation
- Increased Intracranial Pressure
- Cerebral Vasculitis and Altered CSF
Traditional Treatment
- Types of Meningitis
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
Current Research
- Dexamethasone
- Glycerol
- Hypothermia
- A New Mingococcal Vaccine for Africa
Introduction to bacterial meningitis © 2010 Novartis AG [1]
How bacterial meningitis affects the body © 2010 Novartis AG [2]
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External Links:
[1] Link to original video "Introduction to bacterial meningitis": http://youtu.be/LjxmoIwxolU
[2] Link to original video "How bacterial meningitis affects the body": http://youtu.be/OayQEFV0vJA
[2] Link to original video "How bacterial meningitis affects the body": http://youtu.be/OayQEFV0vJA