Meningitis | Symptoms, Treatment, Vaccines
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (thin tissue) that surround the brain and spinal cord.
What Are The Symptoms?
One symptom of Meningitis is a red, blotchy rash that doesn't fade when a clear drinking glass is pressed against the skin.
There can be flu-like symptoms, aches and pains, a stiff neck and photophobia, that is, extreme sensitivity to bright lights.
How Is It Contracted?
Meningitis can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. Viral infections are the most common and the least serious. Bacterial infections, of which there are several types, are treatable.
Viral infections are spread in a similar way to cold and flu infections, by coughing and sneezing, etc.
Who Is At Most Risk?
Infants, teenagers, young adults, the elderly, and anyone with a weak immune system.
Where Are You At Risk?
Meningitis is found world wide, but the highest risk is in sub-Saharan Africa.
Vaccination
There are several different types of Meningitis infection and therefore several types of vaccine. In most developed countries these vaccines are administered to babies in the first year of life.
When Should You Be Vaccinated?
Normally at a very young age.
Does The Vaccine Have Any Side Effects?
Like most injections, some people may experience tenderness and redness at the site of the injection. There may also be some slight fever and flu-like symptoms.
Source Of information
GlaxoSmithKline, Wikipedia, local doctors, local hospitals, newspaper articles, various.