Meningitis

Treatment & Prevention Options

Viral Meningitis: Antibiotics are ineffective against viral meningitis and Tylenol (Acetaminophen) is recommended in mild cases to reduce fever.

"Home care is only recommended if the person has mild viral meningitis, which can only be determined by a spinal tap. If the doctor determines that the person is suffering from mild viral meningitis, medications may be needed for control of headache and fever. This is often accomplished with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or stronger pain medications. Antibiotics are not helpful for viral meningitis." (5)

Bacteria Meningitis: In case of bacterial meningitis, the following line of treatment is given:

• Children are treated with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone (18).



• Non-infectious chronic meningitis (sarcoidosis) is treated with corticosteroids such as prednisone sold with a trade name Deltasone and Meticorten.



• Chronic meningitis caused due to fungal infection is treated with Amphotericin B, Flucytosine and Fluconazole. When the infection is difficult to cure, Amphotericin B is used in combination with Flucytosine to treat (20).

Prevention Methods

Meningitis is a contagious disease and can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush and cigarettes. Good hygeine and cleanliness by washing hands thoroughly with soap after using toilets and before eating food will help prevent the disease. Pregnant women should consume well-cooked meat and avoid eating cheese from unpasteurized milk.

Immunization with vaccines can prevent meningitis; some of them include:

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine: Children in the US receive this vaccine routinely. The vaccine is also recommended for adults suffering from AIDS and Sickle cell disease.

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7): This vaccine is given to children below two years of age and is recommended for children between 2-5 years.

• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV): Older children, younger adults and adults above 65 years of age suffering from immune-compromised disease are advised to have this vaccine.

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4): Previously unvaccinated children of 11-12 years, adolescents (about 15 years) and college freshmen residing in dormitories are advised to get vaccinated with MCV4 (21).

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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• WHAT ARE MENINGITIS AND MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICAEMIA? The Meningitis Trust
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• Types of Meningitis – Meningococcal (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – Meningococcal Septecaemia (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – Pneumococcal (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – Hib (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – TB (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – Neonatal (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – Fungal (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Types of Meningitis – Amoebic (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Meningitis - Causes (2006). Mayoclinic.com
• Meningitis - Risk Factors (2006). Mayoclinic.com
• Symptoms of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia (2006). The Meningitis Trust
• Acute bacterial Meningitis (2003). The Merck Manuals
• Meningitis – Screening and Diagnosis (2006). Mayoclinic.com
• Chronic Meningitis (2003). The Merck Manuals
• Meningitis - Prevention (2007). MayoClinic.com

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