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Meningitis
Meningitisiswhenthemembranesthatsurroundthebrainandspinalcord(meninges)become infected.Meningitiscanbecausedbybacteriaorviruses.Youmustgettreatmentimmediately becausemeningitiscancausedeath. Immunisationcanprotectagainstsomeformsofmeningitis. Bacterial meningitis Meningitiscausedbybacteriaiscalledbacterialmeningitis.Theorganisms(germs)thatcause bacterialmeningitismayliveinthenoseandthroat.Peopleofanyagecancarrythemwithout becomingill,buttheycaninfectothersthroughcoughingorsneezing.Meningitiscausedbythese bacteriaisseriousandrequiresverypromptmedicalattention. Somecommonexamplesofbacterialmeningitisare: Haemophilus (Hib) meningitiscausedbyHaemophilus influenzae typeb. Meningococcal meningitiscausedbyNeisseria meningitides. Pneumococcal meningitiscausedbyStreptococcus pneumoniae.
Meningitiscausedbybacteriaisserious.Antibioticsareusedtotreattheinfectionbutdeathdoes occurinasmallnumberofthoseaffected:Hib(5%),meningococcal(7%)andpneumococcal meningitis(20%).Oneinfivechildrenareleftwithpermanentdisabilities,suchascerebralpalsy anddeafness. Viralmeningitis Meningitiscausedbyavirusiscalledviralmeningitis.Thistypeofmeningitisisrelativelycommon andcanoccasionallybeserious.Itcanbecausedbyavarietyofdifferentviruses.Itisoftena complicationofanotherviralillness. Someofthevirusesthatcancausemeningitisinclude: Enteroviruses Coxsackieviruses Mumpsvirus Adenovirus.
Signs and symptoms babies and young children Thesymptomsandsignsofmeningitisinbabiesandyoungchildreninclude: Fever Refusingfeeds Fretfulness Beingdifficulttowake Purpleredskinrashorbruising Highmoaningcry Paleorblotchyskin.
Signs and symptoms older children and adults Thesymptomsandsignsofmeningitisinadultsandolderchildreninclude: Headache Fever Vomiting
Meningitis
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Preventing bacterial meningitis Someformsofmeningitiscanbepreventedbyimmunisation: Haemophilus influenzae type bcanbepreventedwithHibvaccine,whichisofferedto allinfantsinAustralia. Meningococcal group C avaccineisnowavailablethatcangivelong-lastingprotection againstgroupCmeningococcaldisease,whichisoneofthemostcommongroupsin Australia.Unfortunately,novaccineisavailableforgroupBmeningococcaldisease,which isalsoacommontypeofmeningococcalbacteriainAustralia. Pneumococcal diseasetwotypesofvaccineareavailable.Theyareavailabletoanyone inthecommunitybutareprovidedfreeforcertainhigh-riskgroups,includingallbabies andadults65yearsofageandover. Types not common in Australia vaccinesareavailablefortravellerstocoversome formsofmeningitisthatarenotcommoninAustralia.
Preventing viral meningitis Youcanpreventthespreadofmanyviralinfectionsbyusingahandkerchiefandwashingyour handsthoroughlyafterusingthetoilet.Youshouldalsoavoidclosecontact,sneezingandcoughing overotherpeopleifyouhaveaviralinfection. Treatment for bacterial meningitis Earlyandrapiddiagnosisisveryimportantinthetreatmentofbacterialmeningitis.Treatmentmay include: Antibiotics(oftengivenintravenously) Hospitalcare Anticonvulsant,cortisoneandsedativemedications,whichmaybeusedtotreat complications.
Viralmeningitiscannotbetreatedwithantibiotics. Get further medical help if you are still worried Youaretheexpertinyourfamilyshealth.Ifyouthinkapersonhassymptomsthatsuggest meningitis,contactyourdoctorimmediately, calltriplezero(000)foranambulance orgotothe nearesthospitalemergencydepartment.Earlydiagnosisandtreatmentarevital. Where to get help
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Things to remember
This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:
DHS-CommunicableDiseaseControl
Meningitis
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