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.
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Contact Dr. Mudit Sharma
Phone: (571) 921-4877
Toll Free: (855) 774-6334
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 4pm
Friday: 8am – 2pm
Fredericksburg
4604 Spotsylvania Parkway, Suite 300 Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Manassas
8650 Sudley Road, Suite 315
Manassas, VA 20110-4418