Who is meningitis most common in?
Most cases of viral meningitis occur in children younger than age 5. Bacterial meningitis is common in those under age 20.
Is meningitis person to person?
Meningitis is transmitted to people by many methods. Both bacterial and viral meningitis are spread person to person similarly. Person-to-person spread can happen with direct and indirect contact between individuals (coughing up droplets, contact with the feces, sneezing, saliva, kissing, or eating contaminated food).
What are your chances of getting meningitis?
The risk of getting the disease is very low. Although meningococcal disease is infectious and can cause outbreaks, 97 out of every 100 cases are isolated, with no link to any other cases.
Where is meningitis common?
Meningococcal disease occurs worldwide, with the highest incidence of disease found in the ‘meningitis belt’ of sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, major epidemics occur every 5 to 12 years with attack rates reaching 1,000 cases per 100,000 population.
Which is the most dangerous form of meningitis?
Meningococcal meningitis is the most common form of N meningitidis infection. Inflammation and swelling of the meninges causes most of the problems, but the bacteria can also enter the bloodstream. This type of infection is called bacteremia or septicemia. Meningococcal septicemia is a dangerous form of bloodstream infection.
When does meningitis become more common in children?
Meningitis in children. Meningitis becomes more common in children as they grow older and reach high school and college ages. Symptoms of viral and bacterial meningitis in children are very similar to symptoms in adults.
What causes meningitis in the United States of America?
Most cases of meningitis in the United States are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections are other causes.
Which is a risk factor for meningococcal disease?
Age as a Risk Factor. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but rates of disease are highest in children younger than 1 year old, followed by a second peak in adolescence.
How contagious is meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis is usually less contagious than viral; depending on the bacterial genus causing the infection, it may be contagious during the incubation period and for about an additional seven to 14 days. And they can be contagious for much longer (many days to months) if the person becomes a carrier.
What is meningitis and can it be prevented?
Bacterial meningitis is one of the most dangerous infections in children. Meningitis can be swift and deadly. It can also lead to chronic disability. The fear of meningitis often haunts parents. Thankfully, most cases of bacterial meningitis can now be prevented.
How do you diagnose meningitis?
Meningitis can be officially diagnosed by a doctor via a combination of blood tests, head imaging, and a lumbar puncture (a sample taken from your spine). If your diagnostic tests come back positive for meningitis, you will need to receive treatment immediately.
How does one contract meningitis?
Hygiene: The bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are contracted through close personal contact including sneezing, coughs, kissing, not washing hands before eating, and after going to the toilet.