Meningitis Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition. Most patients can recover; however, in some cases it can cause death in less than 24 hours. Meningitis can also cause brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. Meningitis affects over 4000 people annually, with 500 deaths occurring. There are risk factors for meningitis that include-
Age, older people are at more of a risk for this disease
-
Schools, or areas that have large crowds
-
Working with meningitis patients can raise your risks of contracting the disease. Scientists that study the disease and are exposed to pathogens are at an elevated risk of contracting it.
-
Travel to certain areas in other countries can raise the risks of contracting meningitis; always inquire if patients have traveled out of the country within the last 3 months.
Related:
Delusional Patients
The Spread of Meningitis Most often meningitis is spread directly from one person to another. Certain strains of meningitis can be spread through food. A food service worker diagnosed would need to be quarantined, and their employer alerted immediately. People can also carry these germs, so it's important to track down the source when a patient is diagnosed. The bacteria causing meningitis can be spread from moms to baby during birth. It may also be spread by the infected persons coughing or sneezing around others. Sexual contact can spread meningitis, and food being prepared by a carrier could pose a dangerous threat to the public. Symptoms of meningitis Nausea and vomiting -
Light sensitivity
-
Confusion
-
Fever
-
Headache