Statistics, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Meningitis refers to inflammation in the layers of tissue surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. There are many causes, but most cases are from a bacterial or viral infection.

Meningitis continues to be a serious global health threat with a high death rate. There is a difference in severity between the two main types.

Viral meningitis is usually milder and can resolve on its own. Bacterial meningitis can cause long-term complications or death, especially if not treated right away.

Vaccines are available to prevent infection with some of the bacterial and viral organisms that can cause meningitis. Vaccinations have greatly reduced the death rate from bacterial meningitis.

Read on to learn more about the fatality rate of meningitis and steps to take to protect yourself and loved ones from getting sick.

Meningitis epidemics continue to happen around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccines for bacterial meningitis A and B have been around for decades, but not everyone has easy access to them.

While the United States has lower rates of meningitis than many other countries, infections do still occur.

Bacterial meningitis statistics

At least 1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis are estimated to occur every year around the world, estimates 2021 research.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1 in 10 people who get bacterial meningitis die from the infection, even with treatment.

Without treatment, the death rate can be as high as 70 percent, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Several types of bacteria can cause meningitis, but the most common are:

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus)
• Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus)
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus)

Hib used to be the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under 5 years old. According to the CDC, roughly 4 percent of cases were fatal. But once the Hib vaccine was introduced in 1989, the rate of invasive Hib disease in young children decreased dramatically, to fewer than 1 case per 100,000 children.

Globally, deaths from meningitis have been decreasing over the last 2 decades, according to 2018 research. The highest death rates and likelihood rates of contracting meningitis remain in certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Viral meningitis statistics

Viral meningitis is usually much less severe than bacterial meningitis. People with average immune systems will likely get better on their own from viral meningitis without treatment.

The fatality rate from viral meningitis depends on the type of virus causing the infection.

Most cases of viral meningitis are caused by non-polio enteroviruses. The death rate from these types of infections is very low. One study estimated the fatality rate from viral meningitis caused by enteroviruses at less than 1 percent.

Meningitis caused by West Nile virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, has an estimated 4 to 13 percent death rate. Likelihood of death is higher in people who are older, are immunocompromised, or have diabetes.

The bacteria and viruses that bring about meningitis can be transmitted through respiratory droplets or throat secretions when you cough, sneeze, kiss, or share utensils.

It’s also possible to contract certain kinds of bacteria that can cause meningitis if you eat contaminated food. Group B streptococcus can also be transmitted from birthing parent to child around the time of birth.

Meningitis can occur in people of all ages, but babies, children, and those with a weakened immune system are at the highest risk. Babies between birth and 1 month of age are more likely to develop a severe viral infection.

Higher risk also occurs when people live closely together, like in overcrowded households, student or military housing, or refugee camps. Smoking can also raise the risk of certain types of meningitis.

Travel to sub-Saharan Africa can also raise the risk of meningitis.

Early symptoms of meningitis are usually fever, vomiting, and headache. These symptoms often start a few days after a cold, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Other symptoms of meningitis include:

• cold hands and feet
• rash
• neck stiffness
• confusion
• sensitivity to bright lights
• severe headache
• irritability
• inconsolable crying (in babies)
• high fever

Research has found that 85 percent of children and teens who died from meningitis caused by N. meningitidis did so within 24 hours of diagnosis. If you or your child experiences the above symptoms, visit a doctor right away.

Bacterial meningitis is always a medical emergency. It must be treated at a hospital with intravenous antibiotics and steroids.

According to the WHO, vaccination to prevent meningitis is the best way to lessen the disease burden.

There are currently three types of vaccines for meningitis. These include vaccines against:

• Hib
• pneumococcus (PCV20, PCV13, and PPSV23)
• meningococcus (MenB and MenACWY)

Some of these vaccines are considered standard vaccinations and are recommended for all children or adolescents. Others are only recommended for people considered high risk. All these vaccines are available in the United States.

It’s best to stay current on other vaccines as well. Vaccines for viruses such as chickenpox, measles, and influenza can also help prevent meningitis.

Vaccination isn’t 100 percent effective, but it is a substantial protective measure. Vaccines train your immune system to respond to an infection it hasn’t met yet.

Meningitis rates have declined drastically since vaccination started in the 1990s. In 2005, the CDC recommended vaccination with the MenACWY vaccine for all pre-teens and teens. Since then, meningococcal disease in adolescents decreased by over 90 percent.

Other ways to prevent infections with viruses and bacteria that may result in meningitis are to:

• wash your hands often with soap and water
• clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as counters and door knobs
• avoid close contact with people who are sick
• stay home when you’re sick
• keep sick children home from school
• avoid bites from mosquitoes and other insects that carry diseases

Meningitis deaths have declined drastically since the introduction of meningitis vaccines in the 1990s, but the disease is still considered a serious public health concern.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading an effort to defeat meningitis by 2030. One of its aims is to reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50 percent and deaths by 70 percent.

Currently, the best way to prevent meningitis and severe disease is to get vaccinated. If you’re vaccinated, you’re likely to have a milder disease if you do contract meningitis and a lower risk of dying from the infection.

Meningitis – Can kill within 4 hours and can affect anyone! What it is and what to look out for

by Emma Hammett | Uncategorized

Post updated January 2020

Meningitis is a deadly disease that can develop very quickly and kill in hours. It can happen to anyone of any age.

This disease is most common in babies, young children and teenagers. However, cases in young adults are being increasingly reported. Students in their first year at university are now the second most ‘at risk’ group for contracting this disease.

There are many misconceptions about meningitis as some symptoms are similar to those of common illnesses. This article will lay out exactly what meningitis is, how to recognise the symptoms and what you can do to get medical help fast.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges – the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis can be viral or bacterial. The former is unpleasant and can make people feel extremely unwell. However it is rarely life-threatening or a cause of long-term complications. On the opposite, bacterial meningitis can be extremely serious and result in life changing complications or death.

The most common strain of bacterial meningitis, meningococcal group B, is responsible for more than 90% of meningococcal infections in young children. For this strain of the disease, there is the MenB vaccine available as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme.

If you not treat it quickly, or preventatively treat it with vaccination, the consequences can be very serious.

Some of the most common complications associated with meningitis are:

• Hearing loss
• Seizures
• Vision loss
• Memory, coordination and balance problems
• Arthritis
• Kidney problems
• Loss of limbs due to the infection spreading around the body and damaging tissue and

Overall, studies estimate up to 1 in every 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal.

What are the signs and symptoms? 

• Pale, mottled skin.
• Feeling seriously unwell.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Fever, vomiting, headache and feeling generally unwell. These early symptoms are extremely difficult to recognise as they are similar to many other less serious illnesses.
• Headaches
• Diarrhoea
• Difficulty breathing.
• Floppy, lifeless and drowsy.
• A rash may not appear at all, but if the person is unwell and you see a rash which does not disappear when pressure is applied to it (the tumbler test), call an ambulance.

In young babies, the rise in intracranial pressure within the brain can lead to the soft spot of their head (fontanelle) being raised. If the baby is unwell, a raised fontanelle could be a sign of meningitis.

These symptoms can appear in any order and you do not always get all the symptoms.

Other meningitis symptoms specific to toddlers and babies:

• Refusing to eat/feed
• Irritable, not wanting to be held/touched
• A stiff body, with jerky movements, or floppy, unable to stand up
• A tense or bulging soft spot on the head (fontanelle)
• A high pitched or moaning cry

What can I do?

You should get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you or your child may have meningitis.

Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E. If you’re not sure if its serious then call NHS 111 or your GP surgery for advice.

The tumbler test

NEVER wait for a rash – it is usually one of the last signs to appear and may not appear at all.

With most rashes, when pressure is applied to the skin, the rash disappears. With meningitis, the rash is different and does not disappear with pressure and so can be seen when a clear glass tumbler is pressed over the skin.

It can be harder to see a rash on dark skin, check the soles of the feet, palms of hands, roof of mouth and inside eyelids.      

Images thanks to the meningitis research foundation

It is important that you do not wait for a rash to appear before testing and raising concern.

Call an ambulance if:

• You/the casualty is displaying some of the symptoms listed above and is getting worse
• A rash begin to appear and you are still able to see it if you apply pressure with the side of a glass (the tumbler test).
• You are sent home from the hospital or GP Surgery and the you or your child gets worse. In that case, Return again. Trust your instincts and tell them you are worried!

First Aid for life include common illnesses on most of our training. Please join one of our practical or online first aid courses to ensure you have the skills to help in a medical emergency.

Written by Emma Hammett.

First Aid for Life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

Email: [email protected] or telephone 020 8675 4036 for more information.
https://firstaidforlife.org.uk– Award Winning First Aid training tailored to your needs

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Death from meningitis in hours: symptoms can be confused with acute respiratory infections

Society A one and a half year old child died of meningitis. On the evening of March 4, the boy became ill, and by morning he was already in intensive care. Doctors were called at least three times, and now the parents blame the doctors for the death of their son – even in the hospital, meningitis was not immediately suspected. This disease is really easy to miss and difficult to cure.

Little Damir felt slightly unwell on March 4th. Grandmother and parents decided to measure the temperature. After the numbers 37.6 they gave an antipyretic, but it did not help. From 21:30 to 03:30, the parents called an ambulance four times. But the car arrived 20 minutes after the last call, almost at 05:00. During this time, the temperature of a one and a half year old boy rose to 39.8 and did not subside. Damir had convulsions and lost consciousness.

Accident or medical error?

The press service of the Yekaterinburg City Health Department stated that the boy’s father refused the call when he called the ambulance for the third time. “At 22:29a second call was received from the parents to the control room, specifying the time of arrival of the brigade. And at 11:21 p.m., the father called, who said that the child had fallen asleep and refused to call, ”the department told the E1 website.

Damir’s family denies this. The father says that he only reported that his son had fallen asleep, and wanted to know when the brigade would finally arrive.

But even in the hospital the diagnosis was not made immediately. Only in the morning, already in the ward, when the child became ill again, the doctors noticed a rash on his legs – one of the main symptoms of a meningococcal infection, from which the boy died. Neither in the ambulance nor in the emergency room did the doctor see a rash.

Now the parents are looking for lawyers and are preparing to sue the doctors. They are sure that if the diagnosis had been made earlier, Damir could have survived.

Chief Freelance Specialist in Infectious Diseases in Children of the Russian National Research Medical University. N. I. Pirogov Alexey Rtishchev told 360 that, unfortunately, it can be much more difficult to identify meningitis in young children due to the erased symptoms.

Moreover, it often happens that meningitis is the result of another disease of the respiratory tract or ENT organs.

If treatment is not started in time and antibiotic therapy is not prescribed, after some time the infection may appear in the brain and affect the membranes. In this case, the situation may look like symptoms of a mild acute respiratory disease, and after a day or two, symptoms of meningitis appear

Aleksey Rtishchev.

Symptoms and treatment of meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges or cerebral fluid that can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Meningitis is usually transmitted by airborne droplets. According to Alexei Rtishchev, the prediction of how severe the disease and its consequences will be often depends on the pathogen.

Meningitis is treated with strong antivirals and antibiotics. But all this is effective only if treatment is started on time. In a special risk group, according to the doctor, children of the first five years of life and people over 60-65 years old.

Meningitis, regardless of its causative agent, can be suspected by characteristic symptoms – high fever, severe headache, possible vomiting. Further so-called meningeal symptoms are already detected by the doctor.

“If meningitis or other inflammatory diseases of the nervous system are suspected, cerebrospinal fluid is taken for analysis. According to its characteristics, they look at whether there is inflammation or not, ”added Rtishchev.

Vaccine

The boy’s grandmother said that his parents gave him all the vaccinations. But the problem is that the meningococcal vaccine that killed the child is not included in the national vaccination schedule, which means that it can only be done for a fee, and even then if you know what you need to get vaccinated.

In February of this year, it was already proposed to replenish the national calendar with vaccinations against human papillomavirus, meningitis, chickenpox and rotavirus. Vaccinations exist for some other pathogens of meningitis, but they are also not provided free of charge and everywhere, and for many, according to Rtishchev, there is no vaccine yet at all.

According to the International Confederation of Meningitis Organisations, 5 million people worldwide develop meningitis each year, and 300,000 of them die. In every fifth meningitis leaves complications that cannot be eliminated until the end of life. Among these consequences are cerebral palsy, brain damage of varying severity, hearing and vision loss, depression, and much more.

Authors:

Olga Nizhelskaya

Tatyana Strukova

Children

Diseases

9 myths about meningitis that can no longer be believed

1. Meningitis happens if you don’t wear a hat

This is the most favorite myth that parents use to scare recalcitrant children. It is connected with the fact that there is a connection in our minds: cold is colds, severe cold is severe colds, in particular meningitis. Actually it is not.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord. This inflammation may be caused by:

Viruses. Meningitis can become a complication of influenza, herpes, measles, mumps.

Bacteria. There are “special” meningococcal bacteria that cause the disease. In addition, other bacterial Bacterial Meningitis infections, such as tuberculosis, pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae infections, also lead to the development of meningitis.

Fungi, parasites, protozoa. All of these types of organisms can cause meningitis, which is difficult to treat.

Most meningitis is transmitted through the air, but some bacteria and protozoa can enter the body through contaminated water or food.

Meningitis is not transmitted through cold ears or uncovered head.

Although, if the immune defenses are weakened due to hypothermia and at the same moment the body encounters a bacterium or virus, the chances of getting meningitis will increase.

2. You don’t die from meningitis

This is not true. Meningitis is a deadly disease. Of course, much depends on the causative agent of the disease and on the condition of the sick person. Viral meningitis is relatively easily tolerated by Viral Meningitis when compared to bacterial ones.

Meningitis caused by bacteria often leads to sepsis, a deadly condition. In this sense, meningococci are very dangerous. They cause meningitis, which develops rapidly, and a person can die in just a few hours.

One in ten people with bacterial meningitis dies due to the complex course of the disease. Complications.

3. Meningitis is a childhood disease

No, both children and adults get meningitis. But the risk of getting Meningitis. Causes are higher in young children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed people (due to HIV infection or chemotherapy). In addition, young children are often not protected by vaccinations. And as a result, they suffer from meningitis ten times more often than adults. Meningococcal infection and purulent bacterial meningitis in the Russian Federation: a ten-year epidemiological observation.

Meningitis is the most dangerous for newborns who have not yet reached the age of one monthMeningitis . The next dangerous age is from three to eight months.

4. Meningitis is when the head hurts badly

Indeed, headache is one of the main symptoms of meningitis. But far from the only one. Moreover, the course of the disease may differ, because it also depends on the cause of meningitis.

The course of the disease can also differ between children and adults. Children’s meningitis is more dangerous than an adult, because it is difficult to calculate, especially when the baby cannot speak or express thoughts.

General symptoms of meningitis in children:

• Irritability;
• Refusal to eat;
• High temperature;
• Weakness, lethargy, drowsiness;
• Possible vomiting.

That is, these are symptoms that can appear in general with any disease: from the common cold to poisoning.

Symptoms of meningitis in adults:

• Fever;
• Headache;
• Stiff neck muscles. Rigidity is a high density, inflexibility. The patient lies in a certain position, it is difficult for him to bend his neck;
• Photophobia. The light irritates the eyes and worsens the headache;
• Drowsiness to the point that the person is difficult to wake up;
• Nausea and vomiting.

The main symptom of meningococcal infection is a characteristic hemorrhagic rash. This means that the rashes resemble hemorrhages or bruises. They can be small, like stars, which gradually become larger and merge into spots. If you press on such a rash, it will not turn pale.

Sometimes the “glass method” is used for diagnosis. You need to take a transparent glass and press it on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin with a rash. If the stains are visible through the glass, you need to call an ambulance to start treatment as soon as possible.

It is important to tell the emergency dispatcher that the patient has such a rash. This is a special case, you need to act quickly.

5.

There is no cure for meningitis

It all depends on what type of meningitis you are talking about.

Viral meningitis usually resolves on its own, also because there are not many effective antiviral drugs. If meningitis, for example, is caused by the flu or herpes virus, then doctors may use special antiviral agents, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Bacterial and fungal meningitis are treated with antibiotics.

In any case, meningitis is treated in a hospital under the supervision of doctors. In addition to antibiotics, infusion therapy is used – the infusion of nutrient solutions that help maintain water balance. Meningitis.Treatment drugs are also prescribed, which reduce the risk of cerebral edema, use oxygen masks if breathing is difficult. To make the patient feel better, painkillers and antiemetics are used.

6. Meningitis occurs only in poor countries

In some countries with a low standard of living (in Africa Meningitis. Epidemiology , in Saudi Arabia) meningitis is indeed more and more common. In general, meningitis is a rather rare infection, but not enough to forget about its existence.

5 to 10% of adults carry meningococci but do not get sick. But they can infect other people. If people live in close quarters, then the percentage of carriers increases markedly Meningococcal Meningitis.Etiology, up to 60%. Therefore, the risk of infection is higher in places where many people gather in a small area: in kindergartens, schools, barracks.

7. There is no vaccination against meningitis

There is no vaccine that will protect you 100% against all meningitis pathogens. But there are vaccines for some viruses and bacteria.

Meningococcal vaccine

Meningococci are the bacteria that cause meningitis, as the name suggests. There are several types of these bacteria, and there are vaccinations that protect against one or more. In Russia, preventive vaccination against meningococcus is not included in the list of mandatory. Vaccinate only according to epidemiological indications (if an outbreak has occurred somewhere). And they also separately advise conscripts who are sent to military service to be vaccinated. But in private centers, both children and adults can be vaccinated.

Pneumococcal vaccine

Pneumococcus can cause meningitis. And this vaccination entered the national calendar relatively recently. This means that children will be given it according to plan, and adults should get vaccinated on their own.

Haemophilus influenzae vaccination

It is not included in the national calendar and still remains on the conscience of patients. It can be done in a private center with the appropriate license, it is part of some combination vaccines (these are vaccines that protect against several diseases at once).

Flu shot

Every year. Adults and children can get the vaccine for free or for money – whichever is more convenient and whichever you prefer. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of complications, including meningitis.

Measles and mumps vaccination

Included in the national vaccination calendar, it also protects against rubella. The kids are on schedule. Adults who have not been vaccinated should vaccinate themselves.

8. After meningitis always becomes disabled

After suffering from bacterial meningitis, people become disabled What is meningitis 20% of those who have recovered. This is a lot. The most common complication of meningitis is hearing loss, up to complete.

Other complications:

• Memory disorders;
• learning difficulties;
• Brain damage;
• Gait and coordination disorders;
• Convulsions;
• Renal failure;
• Shock;
• Loss of limbs. Sometimes they have to be amputated because of a meningococcal infection, which damages more than just the brain;
• Death.

9. In order not to get sick with meningitis, you should not catch a cold

To some extent, this is true: prevention measures for SARS (including influenza) and meningitis are very similar.