Meningitis may be serious\u00a0affections<\/b>. That is the reason why they had to be\u00a0treated quickly and properly<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The disease may affect\u00a0 any group of the population, whatever its age, but\u00a0more specifically young children and teenagers<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Meninges \u00a0are made of layers which envelop brain and spinal cord. They contain a liquid called \u201ccephalo-rachidian liquid\u201d (CRL) which is normally sterile. But when a germ appears in this liquid and develops itself, this generates an\u00a0inflammation of meninges<\/b>\u00a0called \u201cmeningitis\u201d.<\/p>\n
Even if the symptoms are similar,\u00a0different types of meningitis<\/b>\u00a0exist depending on the germ which appears. Thus there are two types of meningitis:
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Viral meningitis
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bacterial meningitis<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Viral meningitis:<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n
<\/b><\/u>This is the\u00a0most frequent<\/b>\u00a0and normally the\u00a0least serious<\/b>\u00a0type of meningitis. It is provoked by numerous common virus (mumps, chickenpox, measles,\u00a0 – ). \u00a0Most of the time, it is\u00a0spontaneously cured within three up to eight days<\/b>\u00a0and does not imply\u00a0any particular treatment<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Nowadays vaccinations which are systematically made on children prevent a certain number of virus which may cause meningitis to appear.<\/p>\n
Bacterial meningitis:
<\/u><\/b>
This type of meningitis is\u00a0less frequent<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0more serious<\/b>\u00a0than the former one.\u00a0Bacterial meningitis<\/b>\u00a0may generate\u00a0serious aftermaths<\/b>\u00a0(deafness, blindness, paralysis, coma), and\u00a0potentially death<\/b>.<\/p>\n
About\u00a070%<\/b>\u00a0of cases happen\u00a0before five years old<\/b>.<\/p>\n
These bacteria are very often located\u00a0in the nose and in the pharynx<\/b>. They are transmitted through contaminated secretions coming from both – nose and pharynx \u2013 that is to say through sputters or sneeze.<\/p>\n
They become really dangerous when they penetrate the circulating blood (blood poisoning or septicemia) and reach meninges.<\/p>\n
The main bacteria at the origin of meningitis are today in France\u00a0pneumococcus<\/b>\u00a0and \u00a0meningococcus<\/b>.
* Pneumococcus\u00a0meningitis\u00a0:<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/i>In France, among all the bacterial infections, those which are generated by pneumococcus are the first cause of death for children who are less than two. Pneumococcus is a very common germ among children. In most of the cases it is harmless but sometimes it may generate an\u00a0ear<\/b>infection<\/b>, a\u00a0pneumonia<\/b>\u00a0or even\u00a0meningitis<\/b>.
<\/b>
Pneumococcus<\/b>\u00a0presents itself under\u00a0different forms called serotypes<\/b>. A vaccine against the seven most frequent serotypes of \u00a0pneumococcus is available and\u00a0recommended as soon as the child is two months old<\/b>.\u00a0
\u00a0
<\/b>*\u00a0meningococcus\u00a0meningitis\u00a0:<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/i>Numerous types of meningococcus<\/b>\u00a0exist (serogroups). In France, serogroups B, C and W 135 are the most frequently detected in case of meningitis.<\/p>\n
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30%<\/b>\u00a0of the cases of invasive infections generated by meningococcus \u00a0lead\u00a0 to a\u00a0dreadful infection<\/b>\u00a0responsible for an important mortality rate:\u00a0purpura fulminans<\/b>. The appearance of\u00a0red marks on the skin<\/b>\u00a0is the corresponding symptom and a sign of extreme seriousness and must consequently be interpreted as the signal of a necessary immediate hospitalization.<\/p>\n
Vaccines against meningococcus A, C, Y and W 135 are available<\/b>. Vaccination is\u00a0recommended\u00a0<\/b>for persons who\u00a0have been in contact with an affected person<\/b>\u00a0or in certain\u00a0countries where the infection is frequent<\/b>.<\/p>\n
There is no similar vaccine against meningococcus belonging to serogroup B ; a few countries have developed specific vaccines of certain clones use to cure a local infection.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
This disease generates consequences more or less serious for the affected person depending on the type of meningitis he suffers from.<\/p>\n
Indeed if the ill person suffers from a\u00a0viral meningitis<\/b>, the most frequent type of meningitis, he will be cured spontaneously\u00a0between three and eight days<\/b>. It does\u00a0not require a specific treatment<\/b>.<\/p>\n
But in case of\u00a0bacterial meningitis<\/b>, the least frequent but the most serious meningitis, the disease may generate\u00a0serious aftermath<\/b>\u00a0such as deafness, blindness, paralysis, coma, appearance of red marks on the skin, neurological aftermath, epilepsy – and sometimes even\u00a0death<\/b>.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n Warning signs: \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n Among others, here are a certain number of high-risk factors: \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n To be\u00a0rapidly cured of a viral meningitis<\/b>, the ill person has to combine three essential things:\u00a0resting and drinking much<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0eating properly<\/b>. The ill person can carry on taking the usual medicines against fever.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Only\u00a0antibiotics<\/b>\u00a0are efficient to put an end to\u00a0bacterial meningitis<\/b>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n Meningitis is a disease which may generate serious aftermath for the ill person. As soon as you have a doubt, go immediately to the doctor. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n About\u00a070%<\/b>\u00a0of cases of\u00a0bacterial meningitis<\/b>\u00a0happen\u00a0before 5<\/b>. The disease Meningitis may be serious\u00a0affections. That is the reason why they had to be\u00a0treated quickly and properly. The disease may affect\u00a0 any group of the population, whatever its age, but\u00a0more specifically young children and teenagers. Meninges \u00a0are made of layers which envelop brain and spinal cord. They contain a liquid called \u201ccephalo-rachidian liquid\u201d (CRL) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"vkexunit_cta_each_option":"","footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-634","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PbNfD9-ae","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=634"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":657,"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/634\/revisions\/657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asso-audrey.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ffolder&post=634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.asso-audrey.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jambe-2.jpg?resize=588%2C894&ssl=1\")
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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSymptoms <\/h1>\n\n\n
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sudden fever (39-40 \u00b0C = 102\u00b0F-104\u00b0F)
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Headaches located in the area of the cranium
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aches, sensation that the back of the neck is stiff
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nausea, vomiting
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unusual sensation in front of vivid light
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Red marks (purpura) on the body
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sleepiness
As for\u00a0babies<\/b>, symptoms are often less specific. Consequently it is important to pay attention to a\u00a0fever<\/b>\u00a0added to certain\u00a0modifications of the baby\u2019s behavior<\/b>\u00a0– if the baby cries, refuses to eat, sleeps more than usual, and so on.\u00a0
As far as\u00a0newborn children<\/b>\u00a0are concerned, the\u00a0back\u00a0of their neck<\/b>\u00a0may be\u00a0flabby<\/b>\u00a0and the\u00a0fontanel<\/b>\u00a0– flabby part on top of the head \u2013\u00a0rounded<\/b>.<\/p>\n High-risk factors <\/h1>\n\n\n
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Having\u00a0physical contacts<\/b>\u00a0with a person infected by meningitis \u2013 exchange of saliva during kisses, sneezes, sharing of the same glass, the same cigarette…
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Going to a\u00a0country where the disease is very frequent<\/b>. The best is to inform you before your departure.
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smoking<\/b>. Meningitis may affect smokers either\u00a0active or passive<\/b>\u00a0ones.
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tiredness<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0stress<\/b>\u00a0weaken the immune system which then protects you less against the risks of disease.
If you think you are in presence of a case of meningitis, take the ill person immediately to the doctor. If the doctor\u00a0foresees a case of meningitis<\/b>\u00a0for a reason or another, he will\u00a0hospitalize immediately<\/b>\u00a0the patient.
A\u00a0lumbar puncture<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 taking of cephalo-rachidian liquid \u2013 will allow to identify the bacteria or the virus\u00a0 responsible for the meningitis. This will allow\u00a0to adapt the treatment<\/b>\u00a0depending on the type of meningitis the ill person suffers from.
If it is a\u00a0meningitis due to meningococcus<\/b>, a\u00a0preventive treatment<\/b>\u00a0(antibiotherapy, vaccination) will be suggested to the persons who\u00a0have had a brief or\u00a0prolonged contact with the ill person<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Treatments <\/h1>\n\n\n
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BE CAREFUL, aspirin is not to be taken<\/b>\u00a0to cure a\u00a0viral meningitis<\/b>\u00a0as it may generate Reye syndrome,\u00a0a serious disease which affects brain and liver<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Vaccines against meningococcus A, C, Y and W 135<\/b>\u00a0are currently\u00a0available<\/b>. They are\u00a0strongly recommended<\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0persons who have been in contact with one of the high-risk factors<\/b> – physical contact with an ill person, country where there are epidemics.<\/p>\n Prevention <\/h1>\n\n\n
Certain types of\u00a0bacterial meningitis<\/b>\u00a0can be prevented thanks to\u00a0vaccination<\/b>\u00a0but not all of them.
There is no vaccine against the meningitis due to a meningococcus belonging to type B<\/b>. There are two types of vaccines against meningococcus : the first one provides a protection against several types whereas the second one provides a protection only against serotype C.
There is a\u00a0vaccine against pneumococcus<\/b>. Parents are invited to have their child vaccinated while\u00a0he\/she is between two months and four years old<\/b>\u00a0in order to decrease the risk of bacterial meningitis.
Persons who suffer from a\u00a0bacterial meningitis<\/b>\u00a0have to follow a\u00a0healthy way of life<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 eating healthily, resting \u2013 and a\u00a0good\u00a0hygiene<\/b> – often washing his\/her hands.<\/p>\n Key figures <\/h1>\n\n\n
In\u00a030%<\/b>\u00a0of cases of\u00a0meningitis due to meningococcus\u00a0purpura fulminans<\/b>\u00a0appears.
In\u00a060%<\/b>\u00a0of cases, the ill person does not have\u00a0any aftermath<\/b>\u00a0once cured,\u00a020%<\/b>\u00a0suffer from\u00a0serious aftermath<\/b>\u00a0such as deafness, blindness, paralysis, coma, -. Unfortunately, as for the\u00a020%<\/b>\u00a0remaining cases the disease leads the ill persons to\u00a0death<\/b>.
The outbreak of meningitis is seasonal\u00a0(winter\/spring)<\/b>\u00a0and affects from\u00a01 to 5 individuals out of 100000 inhabitants<\/b>\u00a0in an industrialized country.
Up to\u00a0500000 cases of infections<\/b>\u00a0due to meningococcus are estimated each year worldwide.
Nowadays, about\u00a01.2 millions of cases of bacterial meningitis<\/b>\u00a0(meningococcus, pneumococcus) are registered among which\u00a0135000 are fatal<\/b>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"