Health Information : Meningitis

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What is Meningitis?

Meningitis refers to the inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial Meningitis is rare but it is a medical emergency and can be life-threatening. It progresses very fast and can lead to brain damage, neurologic problems and even death. On the other hand, Viral Meningitis is more common and less serious. Children aged between birth and 2 years are more prone to Meningitis.

What causes Meningitis?

The main cause of Meningitis is bacterial infection. Other causes include:

• Viral infection
• Tumours & Metastatic lesion
• Disease of immune system
• Infectious agents like fungi or parasites

What are the symptoms of Meningitis?

The initial symptoms of Meningitis are fever, vomiting, headache, cold, diarrhea and other signs of infection. It is often accompanied by:

• Lethargy
• Irritability
• Photophobia
• Neck stiffness
• Rashes on skin
• Seizures

How can Meningitis be treated?

All cases of Meningitis have to be admitted and treated in Hospital and appropriate treatment has to be started depending on the causes.