Meningitis

Meningitis is not a drug, but a condition that is very dangerous if not caught as soon as possible. Meningitis is caused by a microorganism (virus, bacteria, fungus, etc.) entering the blood and the the fluid around the spine, causing the meninges (membranes protecting the central nervous system) to swell. Because meningitis and the common flu have some symptoms in common, it is sometimes not diagnosed soon enough to begin effective treatment. When this happens, the result can be permanent damage (especially for children) or even death. It usually only takes meningitis a few days to run its course.

There are three forms of meningitis: bacterial, viral and fungal. 

Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous. If untreated, bacterial meningitis has a high mortality rate, which means that treating even a suspected mild case as soon as possible is essential. Doctors are generally expected to begin administering antibiotics to the patient even before the lab results come back telling them whether meningitis is detected. Bacterial meningitis is the only form that can be targeted by a vaccine.

Viral meningitis is generally not as dangerous as bacterial meningitis, but reaction varies between patients. Sometimes it is mild and passes within a few days, but in others, hospitalization may be required. Viral meningitis cannot be treated with an antibiotic, but still, hospital support and observation can help patients who are hit particularly hard by the virus.

Fungal meningitis is the most rare, and generally only occurs in patients who have conditions known to predispose them to it, particularly AIDS and other forms immunodeficiency and immunosuppression.

One of the greatest risks of meningitis is that it is misdiagnosed. The most common symptom is a headache, followed closely by a stiffness in the neck, caused by the swelling itself. It is also fairly common to develop a fever and an altered mental status (such as irritability and delirium), but even so, these signs and symptoms are not always present together. People with meningitis have also been known to be particularly sensitive to bright light and loud noises, and some forms of bacterial meningitis can cause rash.

Because the symptoms are somewhat inconsistent, yet the disease acts so quickly, it is essentially for medical professionals to respond swiftly to even the chance of meningitis. Failing to identify a risk can allow the disease to progress rapidly. In children, this can cause hearing loss, epilepsy, brain swelling, brain bleeding, cerebral palsy, and death. Infants may develop auditory, neurological, or intellectual impairment. Adults are also at risk, as meningitis that is not caught immediately may cause brain swelling, brain bleeding, septic shock, respiratory distress syndrome, and intravascular coagulation. Those who are older than 60 also are at risk of death if they already have pneumonia, sepsis, or heart trouble when struck with meningitis.

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