Meningococcal meningitis

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Meningococcal Meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis (pronunciation: /ˌmɛnɪŋɡəˈkɒkəl mɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/) is a severe and potentially fatal infection of the meninges (the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.

Etymology

The term "meningococcal" is derived from Neisseria meningitidis, the bacterium that causes the disease, and "meningitis" comes from the Greek words "meninx" (meaning membrane) and "-itis" (meaning inflammation).

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis can include sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), and altered mental status (confusion).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is typically made by analyzing cerebrospinal fluid obtained via a lumbar puncture. The bacteria can be seen under a microscope and can also be grown in a laboratory for further identification.

Treatment

Treatment involves high-dose antibiotics, usually penicillin or a third-generation cephalosporin such as ceftriaxone or cefotaxime. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required.

Prevention

Prevention is possible with the use of meningococcal vaccines. These vaccines are effective against most of the bacterial strains that cause meningococcal meningitis.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski