FACTS ABOUT MENINGITIS

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid in the spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by an infection with  virus or bacteria.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the fluid in the spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain.Bacterial meningitis is most commonly caused by one of three types of bacteria:

1.) Haemophilus influenzae type b,

2.) Neisseria meningitidis, and

3.) Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.

The bacteria are spread by direct close contact with the discharges from the nose or throat of an infected person.

There is also VIRAL MENINGITIS that is caused by virus. :

Viral meningitis  as the name implies is caused by virus and its usually relatively mild. It clears up within a week or two without specific treatment. Viral meningitis is also called aseptic meningitis.

Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or a bacterium is important because of differences in the seriousness of the illness and the treatment needed.

However, BACTERIAL MENINGITIS is much more serious. It can cause severe disease that can result in brain damage and even death.

Bacterial meningitis is most commonly caused by one of three types of bacteria:
1.)  Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

2.) Neisseria meningitidis,

3.) Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Of the three mentioned above, Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.
Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is also called MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS.

While Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is also called PNEUMOCOCCAL MENINGITIS.
It is important to know which type of bacteria is causing the bacterial meningitis because antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting other people especially now that new resistance strains have been isolated in Nigeria.