What if a germ gets into a brain?

Answer 1

Meningitis is an illness caused by bacteria that infects the brain. When infected, the brain swells (as does any tissue that is attacked). Since the brain is encased within the hard skull, the swelling has no where to go. So if the swelling continues, usually a surgeon must remove part of the skull to allow the brain to swell without pushing on the skull. At the same time, strong antibiotics are given by IV to combat the infection. In the 1800s and before, if a person survived a brain infection, the person was usually left with brain damage that created personality and behavior changes. Therefore, these people were institutionalized. Today, more people survive a brain infection with limited brain damage. However, an infection in the brain remains one of the most severe infections a human can acquire and many people still die.