MENINGITIS
Meningitis means inflammation to the brain lining. It can be caused by several different germs. Some are bacteria and some are viruses. Bacterial Meningitis is quite a rare disease but it can be very serious, even life threatening and requires urgent treatment with antibiotics. Viral Meningitis is generally more common but less serious and is not helped by antibiotic treatment. In some cases there are anti-viral drugs which may help severe cases.

What type?
The symptoms are similar so hospital tests may be needed to tell the difference between bacterial and viral meningitis. If you are concerned seek medical advice. If the disease is diagnosed early and treated promptly , most people make a complete recovery. However, in some cases it can be fatal, or may lead to permanent handicap such as deafness or brain damage. There are three main forms of bacterial meningitis: Hib (Haemophillus Influenza type B), meningococcal and pneumococcal

Symptoms and signs
Someone with bacterial meningitis will become very ill. The illness may progress over one or two days, but it can develop very rapidly, sometimes in a matter of hours. The following are some of the signs and symptoms which may not all show at once:

In babies the signs and symptoms are less specific and more difficult to interpret:

In both adults and children there may be a rash of tiny red-purple spots or bruises caused by bleeding under the skin. It can occur anywhere on the body. It is due to blood poisoning which sometimes accompanies meningitis, particularly the meningococcal strain. If you suspect meningitis call your GP straight away. Explain why you are concerned, describing the symptoms carefully. If your GP is not available, go straight to the nearest casualty department. If it is meningitis early treatment with antibiotics is vital.

The germs that cause bacterial meningitis are very common and live naturally in the back of the nose and throat, or upper respiratory tract. The incubation period is between 2 and 10 days. People of any age can carry these germs for days, weeks , or months without becoming ill. Only rarely do the bacteria overcome the body's defenses and cause meningitis. The bacteria are spread between people by coughing, sneezing and kissing. They cannot survive long outside the body and cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, buildings, or factories.

Prevention
There is as yet no vaccine to protect against all strains of meningitis. Research to develop vaccines against the most common strains and to find better ways of controlling the disease is ongoing. There is a vaccine against the A and C strains of meningococcal meningitis. These forms are less common than the B strain. If someone becomes ill with the A or C strain, household contacts of the patient may be offered this vaccine. There is a vaccine available which gives protection against the Hib meningitis and this is now given routinely to all children. Vaccination against pneumococcal meningitis may be considered for those at particularly high risk, for example people with sickle cell disease or whose spleen has been removed