Spinal Meningitis

Spinal Meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane surrounding your

spinal cord, usually caused by an infection. Meningitis can be treated

easily if early detection occurs, but if not it can lead to more serious

complications or death. Due to similar pathology, it can be easy to mistake

early signs of meningitis for the flu. After infection occurs, symptoms

such as including headache, fever and a stiff neck can begin to set in

within two to three days.

Meningitis can occur as a result of two types of infections: viral and

bacterial. While viral infections can usually improve without treatment,

bacterial meningitis is much more serious and can be acutely fatal. If you

begin to experience signs of meningitis, it’s important to see your doctor

as delaying treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage or

worse. Symptoms of meningitis include:

• Stiff neck
• Vomiting or nausea with severe headache
•  Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Seizures
• Sleepiness or difficulty waking up
• Sensitivity to light
• Skin rash

 

It’s important to know the risk factors and what may lead to meningitis in

order to protect yourself from the disease, both viral and bacterial. Some

of the risk factors include:

 

• Skipping vaccinations: Most cases of viral meningitis occur in

children under 5

 

• Living in a community setting: dormitory style living, personnel

on military bases, and children in child care facilities are at increased

risk of meningococcal meningitis..

•   Pregnancy: listeria is a bacterium that causes meningitis and can

occur in pregnant women, also harming their unborn baby.

•  Compromised immune system: Factors that may compromise your

immune system — including HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes and use of
immunosuppressant drugs

 

Since meningitis can cause any of the following: hearing loss, memory

difficulty, learning disabilities, brain damage, seizures, kidney failure,

shock, or death; it’s imperative that you take the proper precautions to

prevent this from happening. Washing your hands, practicing good hygiene,

and staying vaccinated. If you’ve been exposed to someone with bacterial

meningitis and you develop symptoms, go to an emergency room immediately to

be checked out.