Why is meningitis so dangerous? What is affected? And what is the treatment for it?

There are actually several different types of
meningitis. The most common ones are bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis; of these two,
bacterial meningitis is the most deadly.

There are membranes that surround
and protect the spinal cord and brain, protecting the central nervous system together with
cerebrospinal fluid; these membranes are called meninges. Meningitis, then, is an infection of
these membranes which can be caused by various strains of bacteria: streptococcus pneumoniae,
group B Streptococcus, neisseria meningitidis, haemophilus influenzae, and listeria
monocytogenes (among others).

Once bacteria infects the meninges, a critical
life situation is present. The infection can then cause swelling as well as pus in the meninges,
which thickens the cerebrospinal fluid. This can lead to paralysis, blindness, deafness,
seizures, and intellectual impairments. Therefore, it is crucial to obtain necessary antibiotics
upon diagnosis to kill the bacteria causing the infection. Antibiotics are typically delivered
intravenously, and sometimes corticosteroids (depending on the bacteria) are also employed.
These drugs help to reduce brain swelling and seizures.

Various forms of
bacteria-causing meningitis are spread in differing ways. Some are spread through food which is
contaminated. Others are spread through coughing and sneezing. Some others are spread through
childbirth via infected mothers.

There are also risk factors that increase
one's chances of contracting meningitis. Babies are more at risk, as are those (such as college
students) who live together with many people in close proximity. Certain medical conditions make
one more susceptible to infection, as does traveling to certain areas of the world (such as
sub-Saharan Africa).

In the United States between 2003 and 2007, there were
approximately 4000 cases of bacterial meningitis diagnosed each year; about 500 of these cases
each year proved fatal. Viral meningitis is also an infection of the meninges, but the virus
(instead of the bacteria) causing the illness is usually not as severe, and most people heal
over time without treatment.

href="https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html">https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html
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