vaccine??

Yes, there is a vaccine for several types of bacterial meningitis for example Meningococcal meningitis, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, is one version for which vaccines are available. While viral meningitis is more common, bacterial meningitis can be more dangerous if it’s not diagnosed and treated quickly.

For that reason, the two primary vaccines for meningitis are for bacterial causes:

• The meningococcal conjugate, or MenACWY vaccine (often called by brand names such as Menactra, Menveo, and MenQuadfi) features a vaccine that targets four of the most common types of bacterial serotypes. It lasts longer and offers greater protection, especially if patient maintain booster shots.
• The Serogroup B meningococcal, or MenB, vaccine targets one specific strain, and its protection window is much shorter. Only certain populations are recommended to get this vaccine.

Short term side effects of a meningitis vaccine can include:

• Soreness, redness, and burning at the injection site.
• A low-grade fever for a day or two following the injection.
• Chills.
• Headache.
• Joint pain.
• Fatigue.

These short term side effects should subside in 3-7 days, long term side effects required further study.

Who should get the MenACWY vaccine?

The CDC recommends the MenACWY vaccine for:

• Children ages 11 to 12 years old, with a booster dose at 16 years old.
• All children and adults who may be at an increased risk of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal vaccine

Vaccination is your best protection against meningococcal disease. Vaccination with meningococcal B and meningococcal ACWY can be done from 6 weeks of age. Meningococcal immunisation is recommended for:

• • babies and young children under 2 years old.
  • teenagers and young adults aged 15-19 years.
  • teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 24 who live in crowded conditions.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 2 months to 19 years.
  • teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 24 years who are current smokers.
  • travellers to places where meningococcal disease is more common.
  • people who have medical conditions that increase their risk meningococcal disease, such as people with some blood disorders or weakened immune systems.
  • laboratory workers who work with the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease.

Who should get the MenB vaccine?

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that anyone 10 years old or older who is at an increased risk for meningococcal disease get the MenB vaccine.

Special conditions

While most younger children and adults do not need a meningitis vaccine, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends it for the following conditions:

• Certain medical conditions
• Individuals who work with bacteria for their job
• Planned travel to areas where meningitis is common
• Anyone who has an increased risk of infection due to an outbreak of meningococcal disease

How contagious is it?

Fungal, parasitic, and non-infectious meningitis are not contagious.

Viral meningitis is contagious. It’s spread through direct contact with body fluids, including mucus, feces, and saliva. Droplets of infected fluid can be spread and shared with sneezing and coughing. You do not have to come into direct contact with an infected person to pick up this infection.

Bacterial meningitis, the most serious form of meningitis, can also be contagious, especially if it’s meningococcal meningitis. It’s spread through extended contact with an infected person. Schools, daycare centers, military barracks, hospitals, and college dorms are prime locations for sharing this infection.

Meningitis in infants

Babies who develop meningitis may show different signs and symptoms of an infection than adults. These symptoms can include:

• Fever.
• Body or neck stiffness.
• High-pitched crying.
• Inconsolable behaviors.
• Sleepy and difficulty waking.
• Irritable and grumpy.
• Doesn’t feel well and has a weak suck during breastfeeding.

It can develop as a result of unmanaged colds, cold sores, flu, and diarrhea. The viruses that cause these common conditions also cause viral meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis, which is common but life threatening, most likely spreads from a serious infection in a nearby area of the body. For example, the bacteria from a severe ear infection or sinus infection can enter the bloodstream and find their way to the brain or spinal cord and cause a bigger infection.

Meningitis in children

Meningitis becomes more common in children as they grow older and reach high school and college ages. Symptoms of viral and bacterial meningitis in children are similar to symptoms in adults. These include (sudden fever, body and neck aches, confusion or disorientation, nausea, vomiting and tiredness or fatigue).

Meningitis in adults

The risk for several forms of meningitis decreases after young adulthood. That’s in large part due to changing circumstances. Schools and college dorms are common sites where some forms of meningitis can be easily shared. Once a young adult ages out of these settings, the likelihood of an infection begins to fall.

However, older individuals who are living with underlying diseases or health conditions that weaken the immune systems can be at a greater risk, especially older adults who reside in assisted living facilities, where infections can spread quickly.

Teachers, healthcare professionals, and daycare staffers are also at an elevated risk.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing meningitis starts with a health history and physical exam. Age, dorm residence, and daycare center attendance can be important clues. During the physical exam, a doctor will look for: fever, skin issues, increased heart rate, neck stiffness, reduced consciousness etc.

A good doctor will also order a lumbar puncture. This test is also called a spinal tap. It allows the doctor to analyze the cerebral spinal fluid, which contains a number of clues regarding an infection. Some of the clues in the cerebral spinal fluid can be glucose, white blood cell count, and red blood cell count. This test can also determine the best antibiotic for treatment.

Other common tests include the following:

• Blood cultures identify bacteria in the blood. Bacteria can travel from the blood to the brain. N. meningitidis and S. pneumonia, among others, can cause both sepsis and meningitis.
• A complete blood count with differential is a general index of health. It checks the number of red and white blood cells in your blood. White blood cells fight infection. The count is usually elevated in meningitis.
• Chest X-rays can reveal the presence of pneumonia, tuberculosis, or fungal infections. Meningitis can occur after pneumonia.
• A CT scan of the head may show problems like a brain abscess or or intercranial pressure. Bacteria can spread from the sinuses to the meninges.

Pregnancy and listeria

A listeria infection (L. monocytogenes) can lead to a bacterial meningitis infection if not treated quickly, and this type of infection can be very dangerous to a developing baby.

Certain types of food, such as soft cheeses, celery, sprouts, cantaloupe, and ice cream, have recently been connected to listeria outbreaks, but this doesn’t mean eating these foods while pregnant guarantees an infection.

Complications

These complications are typically associated with meningitis:

• seizures.
• Hearing loss.
• Vision loss.
• Memory problems.
• Migraine headaches.
• Brain damage.
• Hydrocephalus.
• A subdural empyema (a buildup of fluid between the brain and the skull).

A meningitis infection may produce bacteria in the bloodstream. These bacteria multiply and some release toxins. That can cause blood vessel damage and leaking of blood into the skin and organs.

A serious form of this blood infection can be life threatening. Gangrene may damage skin and tissue. In rare cases, amputation may be necessary. Several other serious complications may occur in people with meningitis who are not treated properly.

Meningitis and pneumonia

Pneumococcal meningitis is a rare but serious and life-threatening form of bacterial meningitis. Even with treatment, about 1 in 20 people with this type of infection die (5%).

About 40 percent of people carry bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae in their throat and the back of the nose. These bacteria are responsible for common illnesses like pneumonia, sinus infections, and ear infections.

From time to time, however, those bacteria manage to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause inflammation and infection in the brain, spinal cord, or fluids immediately surrounding them.

Symptoms of this serious form of meningitis include:

• Chills.
• High fever.
• Vomiting.
• Light sensitivity.
• Headache.
• Stiff neck.
• Confusion.
• Weakness.
• Disorientation.

There are two vaccines available to prevent pneumococcal meningitis.

What are the risk factors?

The following are some of the risk factors for meningitis:

Compromised immunity

People with an immune deficiency are more vulnerable to infections. This includes the infections that cause meningitis. Certain disorders and treatments can weaken one’s immune system for example:

• HIV/AIDS.
• Autoimmune disorders.
• Chemotherapy.
• Organ or bone marrow transplants.
• Cancer.
• Immunosuppressive medication.

?Cryptococcal meningitis, which is caused by a fungus, is the most common form of meningitis in people with HIV.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women have an increased risk of listeriosis, which is an infection caused by the Listeria bacteria. Infection can spread to the unborn child.

Age

All ages are at risk for meningitis. However, certain age groups have a higher risk. Children under the age of 5 are at increased risk of viral meningitis. Infants are at higher risk of bacterial meningitis. Older adults can also be at risk for certain infections that can lead to meningitis.

Working with animals

Farm workers and others who work with animals have an increased risk of infection with Listeria.

Allopathic treatment

Treatment for meningitis is determined by the cause of meningitis:-

• • Bacterial meningitis requires immediate hospitalization. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent brain damage and death. Bacterial meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics and steroids. There’s no specific antibiotic for bacterial meningitis. It depends on the bacteria involved.
  • Fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal agents.
  • Parasitic meningitis may either involve treating just the symptoms or attempting to treat the infection directly. Depending on the cause, this type may get better without antibiotic treatment. If it worsens, however, your doctor may try to treat the infection itself.
  • Viral meningitis may resolve on its own, but some causes of viral meningitis will be treated with intravenous antiviral medications.
  • Chronic meningitis is treated by treating the underlying cause first, such as a fungal infection or an autoimmune issue such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Homeopathic Treatment of meningitis

If carefully diagnosed, the prognosis is more then 80% success in all types of meningitis.

Veratrum viride

Intense cerebral congestion, rapid pulse, tendency to convulsion, followed by prostration. Elliot considers Veratrum viride in the lower potencies our best remedy in acute meningitis. Coldness of the surface loss of consciousness, dilated pupils, labored, slow, irregular pulse. Pallor with syncope. Tremor. Spasm with violent shrieks; opisthodomos; face dark blue; breath suspended, Pneumonia; Nervous attack with shaking trembling and chilliness; Convulsions. Chorea, movements continuing in sleep, hemorrhage from various organs, crept up arms and legs, Irritative fever with cerebral congestion. Streptococcus fever (Meningitis); rapid and violent alternations of temperature. Ephemeral fevers with nausea and retching. Cerebral-spinal fever.

Belladonna

Simple meningitis, Corresponds to the initial stages, where there is intense heat of the body, strong pulse, bright red face and delirium, where the cerebral irritation is marked by intense pain in the head, starting out of sleep crying out, grinding teeth, stupefaction, vanishing of sight, Stupor and loss of consciousness, muscular palpitations and shocks of the tendons, convulsive fits, with cries, and loss of consciousness, Attacks of tetanus, pulsation of the carotids, sweat of an empyreumatic smell and imparts a yellow color to the sheets.

Rhus Tox

Rhus Tox offers a treatment for meningitis with pain and stiffness of muscles and joints. This is accompanied with marked anxiety and restlessness. High fever and pain in the head are present, that extends to the ears. Rash on the body is also present. Vesicular erysipelas, Acne rosacea

Helleborus Niger

Produces a condition of sensorial depression. Sees, hears, tastes imperfectly, and general muscular weakness, which may go on to complete paralysis, accompanied by dropsical effusions, fixedness of look on one single point, Inflammation of the brain, with stupefaction, Hydrocephalus with stupefaction, Painful sensitiveness of the exterior of the head extending from nape to vertex.

Pulse, small, slow, almost imperceptible Sinking sensation. Slow in answering. Thoughtless; staring. Involuntary sighing. Complete unconsciousness. Picks lips and clothes. Forehead wrinkled in folds. Cold sweat. Stupefying headache. Rolls head day and night; moaning, sudden screams. Bores head into pillow; beats it with hands. Dull pain in occiput, with sensation of water swashing inside. Headache culminates in vomiting. Eyeballs turn upwards; squinting, vacant look. Pupils dilated. Eyes wide open, sunken. Suppressed; scanty, dark; coffee-grounds sediment. Frequent urging. Child cannot urinate. Bladder overdistended. General shivering, with corrugated skin, and tenderness of the scalp when touched, and on moving the head

Kali Bromatum

General paralysis, severe headache. The headache is constant along with a feeling of heat in the head. The pulse is rapid and wiry. Dullness and weakness along with a loss of appetite is also present. Locomotor ataxia. Unconscious of what is occurring around them; cannot recognize, nor be comforted by, their friends, writing almost unintelligible from omission of words or parts of words,  perception slow, answers slow, Hallucinations of sight and sound, with or without mania, precede brain and paralytic symptoms. Delirium, with delusions.

Bryonia

Suits well cerebral effusions with a benumbed sensorium. Over-sensitiveness of the senses. Constant chewing motion with the mouth; when moved screams with pain; Rheumatic and gouty pains; child stupid, abdomen distended; tongue white, pains are most sharp and stitching, and the patient drinks greedily; there is a livid flushed face, high temperature, copious sweats. paralytic weakness.-Torpor and numbness of the limbs, with stiffness and pain of fatigue. Red, shining swelling of some parts of the body. Inflammation of the inner parts especially the brain. Skin moist and clammy, Burning and pricking over the whole body, erysipelatous inflammation, knots and blotches, Furfuraceous titters, with burning itching. Petechiae. Putrid ulcers

Stramonium

Chorea. Delirium tremens. Diaphragmatic. Ecstasy. Enuresis. Epilepsy. Erotomania. Eyes, affections of. Headache, pain in head and nausea predominates in cases of meningitis. Hydrophobia. Hysteria. Lochia, offensive. Locomotor ataxia. Mania. Meningitis, irritability with screaming, striking with hand feet, and a tendency to strike/bite. Convulsive movement of the limbs. Opisthodomos the body is bent backwards with distorted countenance, attacks of cataleptic stiffness. Spasmodic, drawing, paralytic pains in muscles, Involuntary motions; hydrophobia, Convulsive movements and jerks, Puerperal convulsions.-Syncope, with stertorous breathing. Unconscious snoring; jaws hang down; hands and feet twitch; pupils dilated. Trembling of limbs.

Apis mellifica

Tubercular meningitis; there are shrill cries, stabbing pains ; the child puts its hand to its head and screams. There is an oedematous face, scanty urine, thirst less, Impaired memory. Absent-minded. Cannot concentrate thought. Indifference. Torpor and apathy. Constantly whining. Screaming, sudden outcry during sleep. Busy, restless.

Giddiness: when sitting, standing, lying, when closing the eyes; with nausea and headache, Pressing pain in forehead and temples, Sudden stabbing and stinging pains, Hydrocephalus; scalp very sensitive; copious sweat of head; child lies in torpor, delirium interrupted by shrill cries, boring head deep in pillow, rolls it from side to side.

Arnica Montana

Great sensitiveness of the mind with anxiety and restlessness, traumatic meningitis that follows a head injury like a concussion, falling, blows, or bruising, headache and vomiting, Foolish gaiety, levity, and mischievousness. Absence of ideas. Giddiness, with nausea; when moving and rising. Pain, as if a nail were driven into the brain. Stitches in the head, heat and burning in the head. Rheumatic and arthritic pains. Stiffness of the limbs after exertion. Muscular jerking. Stiffness and weariness of all the limbs. Sensation of agitation and trembling in the body, as if all the vessels were throbbing. Extreme sensibility of the whole body, chiefly of the joints and of the skin. Bleeding of internal and external parts, Ebullition of the blood, and congestion in the head, with heat and burning in the upper parts of the body; and cold, or coolness, in the lower parts. Fainting fits, with loss of consciousness, in consequence of mechanical injuries. Convulsions, traumatic trismus and tetanus. General prostration of strength. Paralytic state in consequence of apoplexy. Dropsy of inner parts.

Cicuta virosa

Congestion of the brain with vomiting and purging, general convulsions, twitching in fingers and unconsciousness. The head is spasmodically drawn back with stiff neck. Violent jerks in any part of the body. Strangles on drinking, dilated pupils and staring look, trismus. Attacks of semi-lateral cephalalgia, with nausea. Semi-lateral headache, as from congestion to the head. Compression from both sides of the head. Stupefying pressure on the forehead. Affections of the brain, from concussion of the brain. Starting and spasmodic shocks in the head with drawing backward (head inclines forward; is frequently bent back again).

Zincum metallicum

Chorea. Heaviness, lassitude, and excessive weakness of tubercular constitution and due to suppressed eruptions. Febrile disturbance is absent or slight, twitching jerkings and hyperaesthesia of all the senses and skin, and tremulousness of the feet. At the beginning there are sharp lancinating pains and great exhaustion of nerve force, backache and spinal irritation, brain affections of children, delirium as if frightened, Child repeats everything said to, automatic movements of mouth, arms, and hands, and general restlessness. Pain, which sometimes seems to be between the skin and the flesh. Formication on the skin

Gelsemium

Meningitis in the initial stage, along with severe chills, stiffness of the neck. A headache with a sensation of band tightly binding head, great exhaustion and intense drowsiness. There is a desire to lie still. Vertigo along with a staggering gait may also appear. Jerking of the body, especially of the left side. Staggering as if intoxicated when trying to move, by sudden movement of the head, and walking.-Giddiness as if intoxicated, as if he should fall down. Dizziness and blurred vision. Giddiness with loss of sight, chilliness, accelerated pulse, dullness of vision, double vision. Neuralgic headache, beginning in upper cervical spine; vertebra prominens sensitive; numbness of occipital region; pains extend over head, causing a bursting pain in forehead and eyeball, heaviness of the head, relieved by profuse micturition. pain in the neck, pulsation of the carotid arteries, pain in the limbs great drowsiness, sneezing, double vision, loss of sight. Sensation of contraction of the skin in the middle of the forehead. Itching on the head (face, neck, shoulders).

Sulphur

Tubercular meningitis; the child lies in a stupor with cold sweat on forehead , jerking of limbs, spasms and suppressed urine. Constant heat on top of head. Heaviness and fullness, pressure in temples. Beating headache; worse, stooping, and with vertigo. Sick headache recurring periodically. Tinea capitis, dry form. Scalp dry, falling of hair; worse, washing. Itching; scratching causes burning. violent convulsions, thumbs clenched,loud screaming,face pale with blue lips. No remedy equals it in these conditions, but it is of more use in the later stages.