What Is the Meaning of Meningitis

Meningitis means inflammation of the meninges, the thin layer of tissue that covers the central nervous system. It is a serious illness that, if left untreated, can cause significant disability and, in some cases, death.

History

• The symptoms of meningitis were already known as far back as the time of Hippocrates. Dr Thomas Wolfe, a British physician, first described the condition in the 17th century. Recent advances in vaccine prevention have reduced the incidence of cases. Because of vaccination, Streptococcus pneumonia has replaced Neisseria meningitidis and Haemphilus influenza as the leading cause of bacterial meningitis.

Significance

• Bacterial meningitis can kill in hours if left untreated. Survivors usually experience hearing deficits, loss of digits, liver enzyme abnormalities, coagulopathies and can develop seizure disorders. Of the viral causes of meningitis, the herpes virus causes the most significant infection. Other viruses usually cause less severe disease.

Features

• Almost all patients with meningitis exhibit fever. Some present with altered mental status, seizures, neck rigidity and headaches. Younger patients have less specific symptoms, such as general malaise, vomiting and anorexia. Infants can present with irritability and bulging of the anterior fontanel. Photophobia and neck stiffness are the classic symptoms associated with meningitis.

Misconceptions

• Meningitis is sometimes described as "spinal meningitis". It is important to remind patients that the disease affects all parts of the central nervous system, not just the spine.

Prevention/Solution

• There are several vaccines available to prevent bacterial meningitis. The Haemophilus influenza vaccine has almost eliminated meningitis caused by this organism, which used to be the leading cause of meningitis in infants and children. The Neisseria meningitidis vaccine has also significantly reduced the incidence of meningitis in adolescents, although it only covers a few strains of the bacteria. When a patient is diagnosed with meningitis, it is important to identify who has been exposed to the patient. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for close contacts of patients with Neisseria meningitis. Prophylaxis for contacts of patients with H. flu meningitis is controversial and only recommended to exposed unimmunized children under four years of age. Health care providers should protect themselves with gloves and masks to prevent contagion via air droplets.