Meningococcal meningitis
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
- Medical encyclopedia article on Meningococcal meningitis
- Wikipedia's article - Meningococcal meningitis
This WikiMD 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