Bacterial Meningitis

1. Bacterial Meningitis By: Maria McDowell and Isabelle Chow

2. Bacterial Meningitis What is it? -Swelling of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. What Happens… Tissue swells causing brain to squish up against the skull The brain cells die These brain cells can not be replaced causing permanent damage. Causes… Infection by bacteria, viruses, fungi Bleeding in the swelling tissue Cancer Diseases affecting the immune system

3. Symptoms… • 1. Severe headaches • 2. Vomiting • 3. High fever • 4. Stiff neck • 5. Sensitivity to light • 6. Possible skin rash • Normally appear within 3 or 4 days

4. Cells during Meningitis: The green spheres are the Meningococcal bacteria that cause Meningitis in the meninges (tissue that swells). The meninges are infected causing the brain to swell and push against the skull killing brain cells.

5. Who is at risk? • Anyone can get meningitis, but age is one of the main risk factors. • Babies are at higher risk of bacterial meningitis than any other age group. • Toddlers are also at increased risk of meningitis. • Teenagers and young adults are at risk mainly from meningococcal disease.

6. How is it spread? • Outbreaks can occur where people live close together. • Can be passed from person to person through close contact. • Some bacteria can be passed through kissing and other types of close contact. • Most of the bacteria that cause meningitis are not as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu.

7. Treatment… • 1. Antibiotics • -Rifampin is used to prevent outbreaks • 2. Vaccines • -most effective type is developed for the Hib bacteria (one of the types that causes the disease.)

8. -Meningitis Research Foundation is a registered charity that fights death and disability from meningitis by funding vital scientific research. • -research already has led to many advances. • -Current research efforts include investigating new chemotherapy-based treatment for neoplastic meningitis (caused by cancer) . Current Research