Who are the most common victims of meningitis?

Who are the most common victims of meningitis?

Children between the ages of 1 month and 2 years are the most susceptible to bacterial meningitis. Adults with certain risk factors are also susceptible. You are at higher risk if you abuse alcohol, have chronic nose and ear infections, sustain a head injury or get pneumococcal pneumonia.

What is the most dangerous form of meningitis caused by?

Meningitis is most often caused by either a virus or one of several types of bacteria: Bacterial forms of meningitis can be extremely dangerous and fast-moving and have the greatest potential for being fatal. The long-term effects of bacterial meningitis can include multiple amputations, hearing loss and kidney damage.

What is the most dangerous meningitis?

There are three basic kinds of meningitis: viral, bacterial, and fungal. Of these three, viral meningitis is the most common, but bacterial is the most dangerous.

What are the most common causative agents of meningitis for immunocompetent individuals?

The most common pathogen in immunocompromised patients with bacterial meningitis is S. pneumoniae, but other pathogens such as L. monocytogenes, E. coli, Salmonella species, and S.

How can you tell if meningitis is viral or bacterial?

To determine whether a person is suffering from viral or bacterial meningitis, doctors will have to perform a lumbar puncture. This involves collecting a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to find out what is causing the meningitis.

What is the most common way to get meningitis?

Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.

What makes a person at risk for meningitis?

Certain medical conditions: There are certain medical conditions, medications, and surgical procedures that put people at increased risk for meningitis. Working with meningitis-causing pathogens: Microbiologists routinely exposed to meningitis-causing bacteria are at increased risk for meningitis.

Who is most at risk for tuberculous meningitis?

Tuberculous meningitis, which is meningitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is more common in people from countries in which tuberculosis is endemic, but is also encountered in persons with immune problems, such as AIDS.

How old do you have to be to catch meningitis?

How to catch meningitis. Anyone can be affected by meningitis and septicaemia, but there are certain factors which may put you at greater risk. These include being a certain age (0-5, 15-24 and over 65), living environment, exposure to passive smoking, mass gatherings and immune system problems.

What are the symptoms of meningitis in children?

Meningitis. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Other symptoms include confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light or loud noises. Young children often exhibit only nonspecific symptoms, such as irritability, drowsiness, or poor feeding.

Who is most at risk for viral meningitis?

People of any age can get viral meningitis. However, some people have a higher risk of getting the disease, including: People with weakened immune systems caused by diseases, medications (such as chemotherapy), and recent organ or bone marrow transplantations

What foods should you avoid if you have meningitis?

Avoid cheeses made from unpasteurized milk. Choose cheeses that are clearly labeled as being made with pasteurized milk. Some forms of bacterial meningitis are preventable with the following vaccinations: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine.

What kind of bacteria is responsible for meningitis?

Three types of bacteria are responsible for 80% of all Bacterial Meningitis. These are: 1) Hemophilus influenzae (type B), 2) Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus), and 3) Neisseria meningitidis (Meningococcus).

Where is meningitis found in the world?

Meningococcal disease is found worldwide, with the highest incidence of disease found in the ‘meningitis belt’ of sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, major epidemics occur every 5 to 12 years with attack rates reaching 1,000 cases per 100,000 population.