BACTERIAL MENINGITIS

BY LUCY AND JAHAN

WHAT CAUSES IT?
Bacteria that enter the bloodstream and travel to
the brain and spinal cord cause bacterial
meningitis. Bacterial meningitis also can occur
when bacteria directly invade the meninges. This
may be caused by an ear or sinus infection, a skull
fracture, or (rarely) surgeries. Several strains of
bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis, most
commonly:
• Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• Neisseria meningitidis.
• Haemophilus influenzae.
A microscope image of streptococcus pneumoniae
• Listeria monocytogenes. bacterium (Above)
HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?

•DEPENDING ON THE BACTERIA CAUSING THE DISEASE, IT CAN BE

SPREAD IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS:

• STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE, NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS AND

HAEMOPHILUS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY FOUND IN THE
RESPIRATORY TRACT, SINUSES, AND NASAL CAVITY ARE MAINLY
SPREAD THROUGH DIRECT CONTACT WITH RESPIRATORY
DROPLETS. THE BACTERIA CAN BE SPREAD BY COUGHING,
SNEEZING, KISSING AND LIVING IN CROWDED CONDITIONS.

• LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ARE FOODBORNE BACTERIA, ARE

OFTEN FOUND IN UNPASTEURIZED CHEESES, HOT DOGS AND
LUNCHMEATS. YOU CAN DEVELOP BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
AFTER EATING THESE FOODS.
WHAT ARE THE
SYMPTOMS?
• SOME OF THE COMMON SYMPTOMS ARE :-
• STIFF NECK
• FEVER (HIGH)
• HEADACHES
• BRUISING ALL OVER THE BODY
• RASH ON THE SKIN
• SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT
HOW CAN IT BE TREATED ?
• VACCINATION – THERE ARE VACCINES FOR ALL FOUR OF THE BACTERIA
THAT CAUSE MENINGITIS

• ANTIBIOTICS – SINCE IT IS A BACTERIAL INFECTION, WE CAN TREAT IT

WITH ANTIBIOTICS WHICH CAN BE GIVEN WHEN THE TYPE OF
BACTERIA IS DISCOVERED

• CORTICOSTEROIDS CAN BE GIVEN TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION AND

SWELLING.

• FLUID INTAKE MUST BE HIGH TO PREVENT DEHYDRATION.