1. Meningitis

2. Video #1
Video #2
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3. What are the meninges?
The meninges are membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. The meninges consist of three layers of protective tissue
Dura mater- most superior of meningeal layers
Arachnoid- middle layer of the meninges
Pia mater- inner most layer of the meninges
Function
Protects Cranial Nerves and Spinal Cord
Its name means "hard mother" in Latin and it is tough and inflexible. This tissue forms several structures that separate the cranial cavity into compartments and protect the brain from displacement.

4. What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges
The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

5. How does meningitis develop?
Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, usually viruses or bacteria
meningitis can also be caused by physical injury, cancer or certain drugs
The five main types of meningitis are:
Bacterial meningitis, Viral meningitis, Parasitic meningitis, Fungal meningitis, Non-infectious meningitis
The severity of illness and the treatment for meningitis differ depending on the cause
Thus, it is important to know the specific cause of meningitis.

6. Viral Meningitis Is the most common type of meningitis
Often less severe than bacterial meningitis
Most people (usually) get better on their own
Infants younger than 1 month and those with suppressed immune systems  more severe illness

7. Viral meningitis Causes
Non-polio enteroviruses are most common cause of viral meningitis in the U.S.
Common in summer to fall
Only small number of peo0ple with an enterovirus develops meningitis
Other Viruses that can cause meningitis are:
Mumps, Measles, Influenza, West Nile Virus
Common in summer to fall when these viruses spread most often

8. Viral Meningitis Risk Factors
Any age group, some are at higher risk including:
Children younger than 5 yrs. of age
People with suppressed immune systems caused by other disease, medications, and recent organ or bone marrow transplantations
Transmission
Close contact with person who has viral meningitis may infect you with the virus that made person sick, but low chances of you developing meningitis

9. Viral meningitis Symptoms In Infants: Fever, Irritability, poor eating
In Adults: Fever, Headache, Stiff neck, Sensitivity to bright light
Diagnosis
Naso-oropharyngeal swabs, stool, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and serum
Treatment
Most cases have no specific treatment
Prevention
Wash hands, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, stay home when sick, Vaccinate against viral infections that can lead to viral meningitis

10. Bacterial meningitis Usually severe
Most people can recover, but it can cause serious complications
Brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities
Several pathogens can cause bacterial meningitis
Leading causes in the U.S. include:
Haemophilus influenzae (most often caused by type b, Hib), Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Neisseria meningitidis.

11. Risk factors
Age- children and teens are at a higher risk for bacterial meningitis
Community setting- Infectious diseases tend to spread more quickly where larger groups of people gather together. College students living in dormitories and military personnel are at increased risk for meningococcal meningitis.
Season- The infection occurs more often in winter or spring

12. transmission
The germs that cause bacterial meningitis can be contagious
Some bacteria can spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions fore example
Kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, living in closed quarters with an infected person
Fortunately, most of the bacteria that cause meningitis are not as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu
Healthy people can carry the bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick. Rarely, these bacteria can invade the body and cause disease. Most people who ‘carry’ the bacteria never become sick.

13. Symptoms Can show up in a person by:
Sudden onset of a fever, headache and stiff neck
It will often have other symptoms, such as
Nausea
Vomiting
Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Altered mental status (confusion)
The symptoms of bacterial meningitis can appear quickly or over several days. Typically they develop within 3-7 days after exposure.

14. Tests to diagnose meningitis
If the health care provider thinks meningitis is possible, a lumbar puncture (“spinal tap") should be done to remove a sample of spinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) for testing.
Tests that may be done include:
Blood culture
Chest x-ray
CT scan of the head
White blood cell (WBC) count

15. Treatment Antibiotics should be started as soon as possible
Appropriate antibiotic treatment of the most common types of bacterial meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk remains higher among young infants and the elderly
Ceftriaxone is one of the most commonly used antibiotics for meningococcal meningitis
Penicillin in high doses is almost always effective, too.
If the patient is allergic to penicillin, chloramphenicol may be used
Sometimes corticosteroids may be used, especially in children

16. Prevention
People in close contact with someone who has meningococcal meningitis should be given antibiotics to prevent infection
Such people include: household members, roommates in dormitories
Vaccines are effective for controlling epidemics. They are currently recommended for:
Adolescents
College students in their first year living in dormitories
Military recruits
Travelers to certain parts of the world

17. Recent Meningococcal disease outbreaks
Two U.S. universities are experiencing unrelated outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease
Princenton University
8 reported cases
1st case reported in March 2013
Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine is being used
University of California, Santa Barbara
4 confirmed cases reported during November 2013