Meningitis/Encephalitis

               Meningitis/Encephalitis

 Meningitis and Encephalitis are medical conditions that involve inflammation of the central nervous system. They affect parts of the system.

• Meningitis is a condition where the meninges, which are the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord become inflamed.

• Encephalitis is a condition where the brain tissue itself becomes inflamed.

The causes of Meningitis include:

• Infectious Meningitis, which is commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections.

• Viral Meningitis is often less severe. Usually gets better on its own. Common viruses that cause Viral Meningitis include entero-viruses.

• Bacterial Meningitis can be life-threatening and needs medical treatment. Common bacteria that cause Bacterial Meningitis include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.

• Non-Infectious Meningitis can also be caused by -infectious things, such as certain medications, autoimmune disorders or cancers.

The symptoms of Meningitis and Encephalitis can be similar.

• Common symptoms of Meningitis include a fever, a severe headache and a stiff neck.

• Other symptoms of Meningitis can include nausea and vomiting sensitivity to light and changes in status.

To diagnose Meningitis doctors can do a Lumbar Puncture also known as a Spinal Tap to collect a sample of fluid.

• They can also do Blood Tests to identify the cause of the infection.

• Imaging Studies, such as CT or MRI scans can be done to see how bad the inflammation is.

The treatment for Meningitis depends on the cause.

• Bacterial Meningitis needs to be treated away with antibiotics and hospitalization is often necessary.

• Viral Meningitis usually just needs treatment to help with the symptoms and sometimes antiviral medications are used.

To prevent Meningitis it is an idea to get vaccinated against certain types of bacterial Meningitis.

• Practicing hygiene, such as washing your hands can also help prevent the spread of infections.

The causes of Encephalitis include:

• Infectious Encephalitis, which is usually caused by viruses. Can also be caused by bacteria or fungi.

• Herpes Simplex Virus is a cause of viral Encephalitis.

• Arboviruses, which are spread by mosquitoes or ticks can also cause Encephalitis.

• Non-Infectious Encephalitis can be caused by reactions, certain medications or metabolic disorders.

The symptoms of Encephalitis can include:

• Fever and headache which're similar to the symptoms of Meningitis.

• Changes in mental status such as confusion or personality changes can also occur.

• Neurological problems, such as weakness or difficulty speaking can happen too.

To diagnose Encephalitis doctors can do a Lumbar Puncture, Blood Tests and Imaging Studies just like they do for Meningitis.

• They may also need to test for antibodies or viral genetic material to figure out the cause.

The treatment for Encephalitis usually involves medications, as well, as supportive care to help with symptoms.

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