Meningitis Trust

Knowledge can truly be the best medicine. When you, or a member of your family feels unwell, it’s easy to diagnose yourself, or ignore the symptoms, assuming you’ll eventually get over it. Meningitis is a very serious illness, at times fatal, and the difficulty is how to spot the difference between a ‘garden variety’ virus and its more ominous relatives.

Meningitis inflames the linings around the brain and can be either viral or bacterial. Meningococcal septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by bacteria in the blood stream multiplying uncontrollably.

Symptoms

As with the common cold and influenza, meningitis often presents with fever, headaches and joint pain over a couple of days. However, symptoms can also come on extremely quickly, in a matter of hours. If a person is also suffering from light sensitivity, a stiff neck, vomiting or rash, they may well be suffering from meningitis. In babies, they may have a distinctive ‘whiny’ cry, refuse feeds, have a bulging fontanelle or become drowsy. It is extremely important, whether the disease is in its bacterial or viral form, to seek medical treatment immediately. Do not wait to exhibit all of the symptoms.

The “glass test” can be used to see if a rash might be septicaemia. If you press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly onto the spots or bruises, they will not fade. If it doubt, call your doctor, medical centre or hospital and explain the patient’s symptoms and mention you are concerned about meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is very serious and needs urgent medical attention. Any bacteria has the potential to cause meningitis. It is mainly caused by meningococcal and pneumococcal bacteria. Other bacteria that may cause meningitis include Hib, TB, E.coli, and group B streptococcus.

Pneumococcal bacteria can cause meningitis but also other illnesses such as ear infections and pneumonia. Pneumococcal meningitis is very serious/ it has a high fatality rate and is associated with a increased risk of brain damage.

Bacterial vs viral

Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics. Family members or those who have had intimate contact (eg kissing) with the patient may also require treatment.

Viral meningitis does not respond to antibiotics. It is more common than it’s bacterial cousin and is rarely life threatening, but it can make people very weak. It is treated with rest and good nursing care.

The bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are very common and often live in that back of the nose and throat. They normally spread between people in close and prolonged contact by coughing, sneezing and intimate kissing. They do not live for very long outside the body, so can’t be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools or surfaces. People of any age can carry the bacteria for days, weeks or months without becoming ill and carrying the bacteria can help to make you more immune to meningitis. Occasionally they overcome the body’s defences and cause meningitis and septicaemia. The bacteria which can cause meningitis in new-born babies are commonly found in the intestine and vagina.

To prevent illness, it is best to take the normal precautions we all should to prevent any other; be well nourished, hydrated, rested warm and practice good hygiene.

Amoebic meningitis is extremely rare but a very serious illness that invariably ends in death, and is caused by an amoeba that may live in geothermal pools. The amoeba may be picked up through the nose when a person puts their head under water.

Some forms of meningococcal disease can be prevented by vaccine. Vaccines effective against groups A,C, W135 and Y are available in New Zealand. A vaccine against A and C can be given to people travelling to areas of the world where these groups commonly occur.

For more information contact The Meningitis Trust www.meningitis-trust.org on its helpline 0800 446 087, call the vaccination helpline on 0800 20 30 90 or visit www.immunise.moh.govt.nz.