Inflammation of the brain is threatening someone’s life, especially infants and children. But not only infants or children, even adults cannot be separated from the threat of this deadly disease. Anyone prone to inflammation of the brain and what are the symptoms?
Inflammation of the brain or in medical science known as meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes of the brain called Meningitis, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis can be caused by various microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites that spread in the blood to the brain fluid.
Meningitis can also be caused by diseases that can trigger inflammation of the tissues of the body without infection, such as cancer. Also due to physical injury or certain drugs.
Meningitis caused by bacteria are more dangerous than viruses. This is the pneumococcal bacteria that can cause death especially in children. Pneumococcal bacteria are able to live and dwell in the throat 10 percent of healthy people, both infants, toddlers and adult individuals.
As reported by the mayo clinic, Friday (6/11/2010), the vulnerable people affected by meningitis are:
1. Age
Most of meningitis caused by viruses and bacteria occur in children under 5 years of age. However, since the mid-1980s, after the introduction of vaccines for children, meningitis patients shifted from age 15 months to 25 years.
According to the data, about 50 percent of children affected by meningitis were reported dead. If the escape from death, toddlers will experience symptoms of residual disease such as paralysis, deafness, epilepsy, mental retardation and slow.
2. People who gather or live in densely populated residential
People who live a densely populated housing, students living in dormitories, personnel on military bases or the children are entrusted in child care (day care) will increase the risk of meningitis. This is because the spread of disease to be faster when a group of people gathered.
3. Pregnant women
In women who are pregnant, there is increased contraction of listeriosis, which is an infection caused by the bacteria listeria, which can also cause meningitis. When pregnant women have listeriosis, an unborn baby would be at risk.
4. Working in the environment associated with animal
The work is always related to animals, such as ranchers, also has a high risk of contracting listeria, which can cause meningitis.
5. People with weak immune systems, among others:
- Infants born less months (premature) and low birth weight
- Babies who breast-fed only a minute or less
- People who are frequently exposed to smoke
- People who experience frequent respiratory tract viral infection in
- Patients with chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, HIV sufferers
- Immunosuppressant drug users are also more susceptible to meningitis.
About 25 percent of people affected by meningitis have symptoms that develop over 24 hours. The rest, will be sick for 1 to 7 days. Sometimes, if someone is taking antibiotics for other infections, symptoms can develop over time.
Symptom of meningitis that occurs in adult individuals is as follows:
Common symptoms
1. Headache
2. Stiff neck
3. Fever and chills
4. Throw up
5. Fear of bright light (photophobia)
6. Confusion
7. Seizures (this occurs in about one third of patients with meningitis)
8. Upper respiratory tract infection (eg cold, sore throat)
Other symptoms
1. Local weakness or loss of strength or sensation, especially in the face
2. Swelling and pain in one or more joints
3. A rash that often looks like a bruise