How does meningitis affect you?

Answer 1

According to the Meningitis Research Foundation and the UK National Health Service, meningitis is a viral or bacterial infection which causes inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the disease and is the more life threatening form. Both meningitis and septicaemia can ultimately cause nerve and brain damage and may be fatal.

Symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.Symptoms of meningitis:

• Fever/vomiting
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck (Less common in young children)
• Dislike of bright lights (Less common in young children)
• Very sleepy / vacant / difficult to wake
• Confused / delirious
• Rash (anywhere on the body - Not present in all cases)
• Seizures

Those highlighted in bold indicate serious symptoms. If these symptoms occur, especially when combined with the earlier symptoms an ambulance should be called immediately.

Symptoms of septicaemia:

• Fever/vomiting
• Limb / joint / muscle pain
• Cold hands and feet / shivering
• Pale or mottled skin
• Breathing fast / breathless
• Rash (anywhere on the body)
• Very sleepy / vacant / difficult to wake
• Confused / delirious

The italicised symptoms are described as red flag symptoms in that they often appear earlier than meningitis symptoms like neck stiffness and dislike of light, and before the more serious symptoms. As such they may give an early warning of a potential meningitis or septicaemia infection.If these symptoms occur then it may be reasonable to suspect meningitis or septicaemia and medical help should be sought.

Complications due to meningitis and septicaemia.
There are a number of potential complications of meningitis infection with the likely hood of experiencing complications dependent on the severity of the infection.

Possible complications of meningitis include:

• loss of hearing (partial or total),
• problems with memory and concentration,
• problems with coordination and balance,
• learning difficulties (this may be temporary or permanent),
• epilepsy,
• cerebral palsy (weakness, paralysis or spasms of part of body),
• speech problems, and
• loss of vision (partial or total).

Possible complications of septicaemia include:

• Memory loss / difficulty retaining information/lack of concentration
• Clumsiness / co-ordination problems
• Arthritis / stiffness in joints
• Scarring / skin damage
• Amputations - for example, fingers, toes, arms or legs
• Kidney damage
• Lung damage

The NHS website has a list of symptoms of meningitis infection, and states that the symptoms usually begin abruptly and rapidly worsen. If meningitis infection is suspected then an ambulance should be summoned immediately as meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours.

Please see related links.

Answer 2

Meningitis is an inflammation of the sheaths that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Any inflammation can cause pain due to swelling and compression of the surrounding structures. Meningitis has many causes (ie. bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infection) and some symptoms can include inability to flex the head forward (chin down), pain with forward head flexion, muscular rigidity, and fever.

Answer 3

Meningitis is a sign of disease, rather than a disease. As an inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord it is taken as an indication that something is wrong. A variety of agents could cause the inflammation including bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. So it's not that meningitis affects the cells of the nervous system, it's that one of more of these agents have caused the meningitis and might very well do other their own characteristic damage to the cells as well.

Please see the link.

Answer 4

When you have Meninjitis you have weak limbs and go strange colours, it affects your brain and your memory so if you know someone with it tell them facts about themselves to keep them sane.

Answer 5

The brain. I believe meningitis means "swelling of the brain lining."

Answer 6

the brain.

Answer 7

it doesn't