Meningitis -International Nurses Association

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

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Schools, or areas that have large crowds

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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.

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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.

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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

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Confusion

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Fever

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Headache

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Neck stiffness

The fever and neck stiffness are almost always present in babies, and if these signs are visible the doctor will order a spinal tap. Most people contract the illness 5 days after exposure, however it can range 2-8 days.

Anytime you suspect a patient may have, or could be at risk to have meningitis, they should be isolated from other patients. Always keep patients isolated from the public.

Treatment It's important to get treatment quickly. Many cases can be treated, although with some patients, treatment is unsuccessful.

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A family doctor that was 62 years old and very healthy encountered a patient with symptoms of meningitis. He took precautions and had the patient admitted into a hospital. 4 days later the doctor began to experience symptoms himself, and admitted himself to the hospital. The patient survived and was fine, however the doctor worsened and after 5 days lost his life. This disease is one that may take a life, and yet not another, therefore should be treated with extreme caution.

To avoid the chances of contracting this condition, do the following-

Eat a well-balanced diet

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Don't smoke

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Avoid overcrowded settings

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Always wash hands well

Meningitis is not an epidemic, nor has it ever been. It is however possible to spread, and should be treated as such with potential patients. Always avoid contact with someone that has symptoms of meningitis, and alert the doctor if you have symptoms or have been exposed to the disease, or if a patient is at risk. While meningitis is fairly rare, it can contaminate an area and cause exposure to multiple people at any given time. Most hospitals have emergency procedures in place for such an event, with clear direction as to what to do. When working with a patient that has meningitis, be sure to protect yourself from possible contamination. Considering the rarity, and protective attire, odds are you will never catch meningitis, however, always play it safe, it is a serious condition.

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