This type of meningitis is fast and deadly. Here's what to know.
When it comes to bacterial infections, bacterial meningitis may not be the most common one, but it is certainly among the most serious.
"The most worrisome part of bacterial meningitis is the lethality of the disease and the rapidity of its onset," explains Dr. Jatin Vyas, a professor of medicine in the infectious disease division at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. "Patients can go from being well to very sick within hours."
Here's what bacterial meningitis is, how it's different from viral and other types of meningitis, and what treatment can be expected if you or a loved one is diagnosed with it.
What is meningitis? What are symptoms?
Meningitis is an infection that causes the thin layers of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed, explains Dr. Rodrigo Hasbun, an infectious diseases professor at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School.
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He says there are several types of meningitis that include bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic and ones caused by non-infectious factors. Viral meningitis is the more common and less serious form of the disease, Hasbun explains, while bacterial meningitis "accounts for the minority of meningitis cases but can be associated with severe neurological complications and even death."
Indeed, bacterial meningitis "has a fatality rate of about one in six and causes long-term complications in one in five survivors," says Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco. Such long-term complications include hearing loss, vision problems, learning difficulties or limb amputations due to sepsis. "Early recognition and treatment are critical to preventing these outcomes," he says.
Common symptoms of viral meningitis include fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and confusion, says Nagata. "In severe cases, it may cause seizures, coma or a purple rash." Infants may show different signs such as poor feeding, irritability, bulging of the soft spot on their head or lethargy.
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What causes meningitis?
Common causes of viral meningitis include enteroviruses, herpes viruses, the West Nile virus, mumps and influenza viruses.
Bacterial meningitis can be caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae, explains Nagata.
Vyas says a look at one's family history and a physical examination that includes an evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via spinal tap is required to know whether one is dealing with viral or bacterial meningitis.
Fungi like Cryptococcus and parasites or amoebas can cause fungal meningitis or parasitic meningitis. Non-infectious causes of meningitis include head injuries, adverse reactions to certain medications, cancer or autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, says Dr. John Sellick, a professor of medicine in the infectious diseases division at the University at Buffalo.
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How is meningitis treated?
Meningitis treatment varies widely depending on its cause. Bacterial meningitis, for instance, "requires immediate intravenous antibiotics and sometimes corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, while viral meningitis usually resolves on its own with rest, fluids and pain relievers," says Nagata. He says that antivirals may also be used against specific viruses like herpes while fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal medications. "Non-infectious meningitis is managed by addressing the underlying condition, such as autoimmune diseases or cancer," he adds.
And while bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening, "early treatment improves outcomes," says Nagata. "The best treatments start with a prompt diagnosis of what is causing the disease," echoes Vyas.
Prevention through vaccination is also important. You can get vaccinated against the viruses that can lead to meningitis and get the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four types of meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis. This vaccine, says Sellick, "has very high efficacy in preventing infection."
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