Meningitis: What you need to know about this dangerous disease

Have you ever had a severe headache that was so severe that your neck was so stiff that you couldn't even bend it? Maybe with a high fever, your eyes became so blue that you couldn't look at the light? These are not good symptoms to ignore. These can be symptoms of a very dangerous disease, also known as "brain fever" in our colloquial language. This is a condition that requires immediate medical attention and can even be life-threatening. So let's be aware of this.

Simply put, what is meningitis?

Think about it, two of the most valuable and sensitive organs in our body are the brain and the spinal cord, which runs through the spine. To protect these valuable organs, they are surrounded by a protective covering made up of three thin membranes. It's like a thin, protective blanket that covers our brain and spinal cord. In medicine, we call these membranes the meninges .

So, if for some reason, for example, due to a bacterial infection, these meningeal membranes start to swell, we call that condition meningitis . When these membranes swell, the pressure on the brain and spinal cord increases. This is what causes a number of dangerous symptoms.

What are the main types of meningitis?

Although the main cause of meningitis is infection, this condition can also occur due to non-infectious causes. Accordingly, we can divide it into two main categories.

In addition, doctors classify this disease in several other ways:

• Acute Meningitis: Symptoms appear suddenly, suddenly. Bacterial meningitis often falls into this category.
• Chronic Meningitis: Symptoms develop gradually and last for a month or more.
• Aseptic Meningitis: If no bacteria are found when the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is examined, it is called Aseptic Meningitis. The main cause of this is a viral infection.

Be very careful about these symptoms!

Meningitis symptoms can vary depending on age. If you have one or more of these, you should see a doctor immediately .

What does a meningitis headache feel like?

This is not like a normal headache. It is often felt as a very severe, sharp pain. This pain can spread down the neck, to the back, and to other parts of the body. It can even be so painful that you can't move your neck.

What are the causes of meningitis?

As we discussed earlier, there can be a number of reasons for this. The most common is a bacterial infection.

• Bacteria: The main types of bacteria are *Streptococcus pneumoniae* and *Neisseria meningitidis*. These are the ones that cause the most severe conditions.
• Viruses: Non-polio enteroviruses and coxsackieviruses are the most common types of viruses that cause viral meningitis.
• Fungi: Fungi such as *Cryptococcus neoformans* can cause meningitis, especially in people with weakened immune systems (e.g., HIV-infected people, cancer patients).
• Parasites: This condition can also be caused by very rare organisms, such as parasites transmitted by rats.
• Non-infectious causes: Cancer, severe head injuries, diseases such as lupus, and very rarely, certain medications can also cause meningitis.

How is this disease transmitted?

This is a very important question. The 'condition' called meningitis is not contagious. That is, the inflammation of the membranes around the brain is not transmitted from one person to another.

However, some of the 'germs' (bacteria and viruses) that cause meningitis can be transmitted from one person to another.

• Through a bacterial or viral infection that spreads from person to person, through sneezing, coughing, or through droplets of saliva.
• By eating food contaminated with germs.
• By inhaling fungi in the environment.
• As a complication of a non-communicable disease such as cancer or lupus.
• As a complication of a head injury or brain surgery.
• As a side effect of a medication.

Who is most at risk?

Some people are more at risk of developing meningitis than others.

• Children under 5 years of age and adults over 65 years of age .
• People with weakened immune systems (e.g., those with HIV, cancer, diabetes).
• People who have had their spleen removed.
• People with chronic ear and nose infections.
• People who drink alcohol excessively.
• People who have had an accident or surgery on the brain or spinal cord.
• People with sickle cell disease.
• People who live together in crowded places , such as university dormitories and military barracks .

What are the complications if treatment is delayed?

The main reason why this is an emergency is because if treatment is delayed, severe, lifelong complications can occur.

• Loss of hearing or vision.
• Behavioral and thinking difficulties, memory impairment.
• Problems with movement of the limbs.
• Seizures .
• Fluid accumulation in the brain.
• Damage to blood vessels in the brain.
• Sepsis - a life-threatening condition in which the infection spreads into the bloodstream and throughout the body.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose this disease?

When you go to the hospital, the doctor will first examine you and ask about your symptoms. He will ask about any recent travel history or other illnesses to try to get an idea of ​​the cause of your illness. Several tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis and find the exact cause.

• Taking a sample from the nose or throat: Check for infection.
• Blood tests: Check for signs of infection in the blood.
• CT scan or MRI scan: To see if there is swelling around the brain.
• Lumbar puncture/Spinal tap: This is the most important and accurate test . In this test, a small needle is inserted into the lower back and a few drops of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord are removed for testing. This fluid can be tested to determine if meningitis is present and whether it is caused by bacteria or a virus.

What are the treatments for meningitis?

Treatment depends on the cause of the meningitis. All of these treatments should be received in a hospital setting.

• For bacterial meningitis: Intravenous antibiotics are started immediately.
• For fungal meningitis: Antifungals are given.
• For viral meningitis: Antiviral drugs are given for some viruses, such as herpes. There is no specific treatment for most viral meningitis cases, and supportive care is provided by giving the body rest.
• To reduce swelling: Corticosteroids are given to reduce swelling in the membranes of the brain.
• Other treatments: Supportive treatments such as painkillers and saline (IV fluids) to prevent dehydration are also provided.

How long will it take to heal?

Viral meningitis usually resolves on its own in about a week. However, symptoms of bacterial or fungal meningitis may persist for a few days or a week after treatment. It may take weeks or months to fully recover.

What should we do to protect ourselves from this disease?

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves from the germs that cause some types of meningitis.

• Get vaccinated: There are vaccines against some of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis. Talk to your doctor about getting the recommended vaccines for your child and you.
• Wash your hands thoroughly: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly.
• Prevent the spread of infection: Avoid contact with others when you have an infectious disease. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing.
• Cleanliness: Clean frequently touched areas with disinfectant.
• Safe eating habits: Eat well-cooked foods. Avoid unpasteurized milk and foods made from it.
• Protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks: Protect yourself from diseases transmitted by some insects, as they can also cause meningitis.

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