GET THE FAST FACTS ABOUT MENINGOCOCCAL
DISEASE & MENINGITIS
In order to fight meningitis, you need to understand it. Here are
the most important things to know:
What is meningitis?
Who gets meningitis?
How does a person catch meningitis?
How can a person prevent meningitis?
How is meningitis treated ?
Find out how meningitis can affect the body - WATCH DEMO
You can lower your child’s risk Learn how
Find out what to ask your child’s doctor Get tips
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a common name for infections that take place in the
membranes (called meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal
cord. Meningitis can be caused by viruses and by bacteria. One of
the most serious forms of meningitis is caused by bacteria known
as meningococci.
Meningococcal disease, while rare, can potentially kill an
otherwise healthy teen in 48 hours or less.2,8,9 Learn how
meningitis can affect the body.
An infection with meningococcal bacteria causes a serious,
potentially fatal infection called meningococcal disease. You may
have heard it referred to as bacterial meningitis. This Web site
will focus on meningococcal disease, including meningitis.
Meningococcal disease can affect the meninges, causing
meningitis. It can also cause a very serious condition called sepsis
(also known as blood poisoning).
Each year, about 3000 people in the United States become
infected with the bacteria, and as many as 1 in 10 of those people
die.
Vaccination can protect against 4 of the 5 common strains of
meningococcal bacteria in the US. Learn more about vaccination.
Viral Meningitis
Another form of meningitis is caused by a virus. Viral meningitis is
serious, but usually not life-threatening. Most patients with viral
meningitis get better on their own in 7 to 10 days. However
without prompt and correct medical diagnosis and treatment this
can be potentially fatal, more especially in infants and young
children. Get the facts about fighting meningitis
Who gets meningitis?
Even people who are usually healthy can get meningitis. However,
data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
have shown that the risk of getting meningitis increases in teens
and young adults. There are ways to help reduce the risk for
teens and young adults. Get tips on talking to kids about
meningitis.
Tell your teen about the risk of meningitis
How does a person catch meningitis?
Although meningitis is uncommon, a person can catch it by having
close personal contact with a person who is sick with the disease.
There are also people who can carry the bacteria in their nose and
throat but never become sick. Contact with these carriers can also
cause someone to become infected with meningitis. As many as 1
in 3 people may carry meningococcal bacteria without getting sick
Experts believe that some behaviours can put people at greater
risk for getting meningitis. These include:
Get tips on talking to your child about health issues
How can a person prevent meningitis?
While there isn’t a way to be 100 % protected, you can help
reduce the risk of getting meningitis by avoiding the behaviours
that spread it. There is also a vaccination that can help prevent
it. Ask your child’s health-care provider about how to protect your
child.
Vaccination can protect against 4 of the 5 common strains of
meningococcal bacteria in the US. Learn more about vaccination.
Learn more about preventing meningitis
How is meningitis treated?
A person with meningitis needs to be seen by a health-care
provider immediately. If you think that someone you know has
meningitis, get that person in for emergency care right away. If
doctors suspect a patient has meningitis, they will give that
person strong antibiotic medicine through an intravenous (IV) tube
straight into their bloodstream.
See how a typical meningitis case can develop
How can meningococcal disease affect a person?
Even with treatment, meningococcal disease can kill an otherwise
healthy young person in 48 hours or less. The severe swelling in
the brain and spinal cord, and sepsis (also known as blood
poisoning) can lead to:
Amputation of limbs, fingers, or toes
Severe scarring
Brain damage
Hearing loss
Kidney damage
Emotional and psychological problems including anxiety,
depression, difficulty working, and more
The lasting effects of meningococcal disease can change a person’s
life forever. That’s why it’s so important to protect people from
this illness.
REFERENCE: FIGHT MENINGITIS.COM
FOR MORE REFERENCES, ARTICLES & PRINTABLES PLEASE
CLICK HERE
DISEASE & MENINGITIS
In order to fight meningitis, you need to understand it. Here are
the most important things to know:
What is meningitis?
Who gets meningitis?
How does a person catch meningitis?
How can a person prevent meningitis?
How is meningitis treated ?
Find out how meningitis can affect the body - WATCH DEMO
You can lower your child’s risk Learn how
Find out what to ask your child’s doctor Get tips
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a common name for infections that take place in the
membranes (called meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal
cord. Meningitis can be caused by viruses and by bacteria. One of
the most serious forms of meningitis is caused by bacteria known
as meningococci.
Meningococcal disease, while rare, can potentially kill an
otherwise healthy teen in 48 hours or less.2,8,9 Learn how
meningitis can affect the body.
An infection with meningococcal bacteria causes a serious,
potentially fatal infection called meningococcal disease. You may
have heard it referred to as bacterial meningitis. This Web site
will focus on meningococcal disease, including meningitis.
Meningococcal disease can affect the meninges, causing
meningitis. It can also cause a very serious condition called sepsis
(also known as blood poisoning).
Each year, about 3000 people in the United States become
infected with the bacteria, and as many as 1 in 10 of those people
die.
Vaccination can protect against 4 of the 5 common strains of
meningococcal bacteria in the US. Learn more about vaccination.
Viral Meningitis
Another form of meningitis is caused by a virus. Viral meningitis is
serious, but usually not life-threatening. Most patients with viral
meningitis get better on their own in 7 to 10 days. However
without prompt and correct medical diagnosis and treatment this
can be potentially fatal, more especially in infants and young
children. Get the facts about fighting meningitis
Who gets meningitis?
Even people who are usually healthy can get meningitis. However,
data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
have shown that the risk of getting meningitis increases in teens
and young adults. There are ways to help reduce the risk for
teens and young adults. Get tips on talking to kids about
meningitis.
Tell your teen about the risk of meningitis
How does a person catch meningitis?
Although meningitis is uncommon, a person can catch it by having
close personal contact with a person who is sick with the disease.
There are also people who can carry the bacteria in their nose and
throat but never become sick. Contact with these carriers can also
cause someone to become infected with meningitis. As many as 1
in 3 people may carry meningococcal bacteria without getting sick
Experts believe that some behaviours can put people at greater
risk for getting meningitis. These include:
- Living in close quarters, such as college dormitories
- Being in crowded situations for prolonged periods of time
- Sharing drinking glasses, water bottles, or eating utensils
- Kissing
- Smoking or being exposed to smoke
- Activities that make people run-down and may weaken the
immune system, such as staying out late and having
irregular sleeping patterns
Get tips on talking to your child about health issues
How can a person prevent meningitis?
While there isn’t a way to be 100 % protected, you can help
reduce the risk of getting meningitis by avoiding the behaviours
that spread it. There is also a vaccination that can help prevent
it. Ask your child’s health-care provider about how to protect your
child.
Vaccination can protect against 4 of the 5 common strains of
meningococcal bacteria in the US. Learn more about vaccination.
Learn more about preventing meningitis
How is meningitis treated?
A person with meningitis needs to be seen by a health-care
provider immediately. If you think that someone you know has
meningitis, get that person in for emergency care right away. If
doctors suspect a patient has meningitis, they will give that
person strong antibiotic medicine through an intravenous (IV) tube
straight into their bloodstream.
See how a typical meningitis case can develop
How can meningococcal disease affect a person?
Even with treatment, meningococcal disease can kill an otherwise
healthy young person in 48 hours or less. The severe swelling in
the brain and spinal cord, and sepsis (also known as blood
poisoning) can lead to:
Amputation of limbs, fingers, or toes
Severe scarring
Brain damage
Hearing loss
Kidney damage
Emotional and psychological problems including anxiety,
depression, difficulty working, and more
The lasting effects of meningococcal disease can change a person’s
life forever. That’s why it’s so important to protect people from
this illness.
REFERENCE: FIGHT MENINGITIS.COM
FOR MORE REFERENCES, ARTICLES & PRINTABLES PLEASE
CLICK HERE
 |
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Links
Maths
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Site Map
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