The Many Faces of Meningitis: Why Vaccination is a Must

It’s one thing to protect our health against specific types of diseases that exist out there in the world. It’s another thing when one of those diseases comes in different forms and can affect an individual in more ways than one. Over the years in the health field, we have learned that certain viral diseases can transform into other illnesses under different classifications (HIV leads to AIDS for example) which leads to an awareness of the importance of receiving different types of vaccinations against diseases of all kinds.

            Meningitis is a virus that causes the inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). The disease comes in different forms: viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious and cause infection in different ways. Viral meningitis develops from preexisting viruses that were already in the body. Individuals that were previously infected with mosquito-borne viruses, enteroviruses, herpes can develop viral meningitis but it is not as severe as the other types of meningitis and mostly cause flu-like symptoms. The viral meningitis goes away eventually without a need for major treatments.

            Bacterial meningitis is the worst though and can eventually lead to death or permanent damage of the brain, epilepsy, and hearing loss if the individual infected is not given immediate medical attention. Its affects and ways of infection are different depending on the age group. Premature and newborn babies come into contact with the disease when born as the bacteria inhabits the vagina. Most individuals in older age groups can become infected from contact with discharges of the nose and throat of an infected person. An individual who has suffered significant skull trauma or fractures is also at risk if the traces of the disease enter the nasal cavity and then into the meningeal space. A weak immune system may also increase risk of infection.

            The other kinds of meningitis (fungal, parasitic, non-infectious) each have their own ways of affecting the meninges (membranes of the brain and spinal cord) but the affects are just as severe in each one causing symptoms such as sudden high fever, rigidity, mental status changes, sensitivity to light and sound, rapid breathing, and in infants the bulging of their soft spot. As the disease progresses, the individual can suffer complications such as the swelling of the brain resulting in a herniate through the skull base, falling blood pressure, seizures, blood clots, hearing loss, and hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid inside the brain).

            Treatments for meningitis range from antibiotics to medicines treating symptoms such as seizures, shock, and brain swelling but it does not bring a complete end to the disease which is why meningitis vaccination is recommended as the best mechanism for prevention. Some vaccinations such as pneumococcal conjugate are considered routine childhood immunization. So if in many communities it is seen as a necessity, then we realize just important it is to not only protect our health but those of children as well. Vaccination should also be considered if you have problems with your immune system, going to travel to countries where the disease is common, surrounded by individuals who have meningitis, or are living in a college dorm room.

            Meningitis reveals itself through many different faces. So much that for many individuals it is hard to detect it in the early stages due to its flu-like symptoms. But depending on the type of meningitis, it is always important to stress the importance because it can become deadly if untreated which leads us to understand the importance as well of receiving the vaccination. It produces long-term immunity but booster shots should be taken at least every 10 years to continue producing immunity against the disease. For more info, visit us at our website at www.travelclinicny.com or call us at 212-696-5900 to schedule an appointment if you are considering vaccination. A clean bill of health is always bliss!