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True or False? 1. Meningitis is caused by either a virus or a form of bacteria. 2. Viral meningitis causes more fatalities than bacterial meningitis. 3. Meningitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord. 4. Symptoms of meningitis may include fever, chills, headache, and a stiff neck. 5. There are treatments available for all causes of meningitis.

Definition of Meningitis  An inflammation of the meninges (protective membranes surrounding the central nervous system)

Causes of Meningitis Fungal MeningitisParasitic Meningitis  Caused by Cryptococcus types of fungus  Affects people with immune deficiencies, such as AIDS, leukemia…  Generally mild or less severe when compared to other forms of meningitis  Caused by N. fowerli  Parasite is typically found in warm, freshwater sources  Very rare  Usually fatal Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Causes of Meningitis Non-Infectious MeningitisViral Meningitis  Caused by trauma to the nervous system  Trauma may result from  Drug use  Cancers  Head injury  Brain surgery  Severity depends upon underlying health condition  Caused by viruses  Enteroviruses  Small viruses made of RNA + protein  Mumps  Herpes  Generally mild or less severe when compared to other forms of meningitis

Causes of Meningitis Bacterial Meningitis  Caused by Haemophilus, Streptococcus, or and Listeria types of bacteria  The type of bacteria causing the infection is dependant upon the age of the individual  Usually severe  Fatalities occur among 20-25% of all individuals affected sitemaker.umich.edu

Diagnosis of Meningitis  Testing of  Blood  Crossing of BB barrier  Cerebrospinal Fluid  PCR for Viral Meningitis  Diagnosis of exclusion for non-infectious forms

Risk Factors of Meningitis  Age  Infants or young are at a higher risk  Setting  Spreads quickly among large groups of people (colleges, military, religious pilgrimages)  Medical conditions that weaken immune system  Travel to Sub-Saharan Africa

Symptoms of Meningitis  Fever  Chills  Nausea  Vomiting  Photophobia  Severe headache  Stiff neck  Agitation  Confusion  Rapid breathing  Bulging fontanelles in children  Decreased consciousness  Temporary or permanent hearing loss  Sepsis resulting in organ failure or loss of limbs  Symptoms may last 2-4 weeks

Neural effects of Meningitis  Inflammation of membranes surrounding brain and spinal cord  Compression of brain decreases synaptic activity  Hearing or speech loss  Blindness  Permanent brain and nerve damage  Behavioral changes  Reduced cognitive abilities  Loss of muscle control  Seizures  Memory loss  Increased pressure on brain forces it through foramen magnum, resulting in an increased pressure placed upon brainstem  Breathing stops  Death

Long-Term Effects of Meningitis  Patients may require  Long-term care  Extensive therapy  Support in educational settings

Treatment of Meningitis  Fungal  Long course of IV Anti-fungal medication  Parasitic  Several drugs are successful in laboratory settings only  Almost always fatal to infected individuals  Non-infectious  Treat the symptoms  Treat the underlying condition (cancer)  Viral  Time (usually 7-10 days)  Treatment of symptoms  Bacterial  Appropriate antibiotics based upon type of bacterial infection  People in contact with infected individuals are often treated as well

Prevention of Meningitis  Standard Immunizations  Standard hygiene practices  Avoid contact with infected individuals

Focuses of Current Meningitis Research  Control of immune response due to the infection  Clinical  Vaccine development  Optimizing treatment  Timing of treatment  Strategy of drug administration  Cost-effective treatment options for areas with limited resources  Recovery  “Neuroprotective” compounds that can block accumulating damage after meningal inflammation

True or False 1. Meningitis is caused by either a virus or a form of bacteria. 2. Viral meningitis causes more fatalities than bacterial meningitis. 3. Meningitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord. 4. Symptoms of meningitis may include fever, chills, headache, and a stiff neck. 5. There are treatments available for all causes of meningitis.

Resources  Centers for Disease Control and Protection  Hearing Research Trust, UK  Meningitis Research Foundation  National Meningitis Association  David R. Boulware, M.D., MPH, DTM&H