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.
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
- 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.
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
- Don't
smoke
- Avoid
overcrowded settings
- 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.
Related: Exceptional
Registered Nurse Marie-Gladys Darcelin, RN, BSN, MS, will be Featured in the
Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare
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