Meningitis: why the disease is dangerous and who is at risk

Every year on April 24, World Meningitis Day is observed. This disease can develop rapidly and be deadly: according to WHO, about 125 thousand people die from it annually. Children under one year and elderly people are especially vulnerable - their mortality rate reaches 30%.

❗ What is meningitis

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be infectious (caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi) and non-infectious (for example, after injuries). Bacterial meningitis is considered the most severe, which can cause seizures, hearing loss, vision loss, and even death within a few hours.

⚠ Who is at risk

First of all:

• children under 5 years,

• elderly over 65,

• patients with immunodeficiency,

• students and military personnel (due to crowded living conditions),

• people who have suffered head injuries or surgeries,

• smokers and those who have had respiratory infections.

🦠 Transmission routes

Most often, meningitis is transmitted through airborne droplets in enclosed spaces - in offices, kindergartens, barracks. The incubation period is short, and symptoms develop rapidly. Sometimes only a few hours pass between the first signs and death.

🧠 Main types

• Viral - relatively mild, similar to the flu.

• Bacterial - the most dangerous, requires urgent hospitalization.

• Fungal - develops slowly, more common in people with immunodeficiency.

• Tuberculous - rare but severe, occurs in patients with active tuberculosis.

👶 Symptoms in children

• high temperature,

• vomiting and headache,

• drowsiness, refusal to eat,

• sensitivity to light,

• skin rash,

• neck stiffness.

👨‍⚕️ Symptoms in adults

• severe headache,

• fever, chills, sweating,

• stiffness in neck muscles,

• confused speech, loss of consciousness,

• vision problems.

🩺 What to do

Meningitis requires immediate medical attention. Diagnosis is made through tests and lumbar puncture. Treatment - with antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal agents - depends on the type of disease.