SHOULD I BE VEry SCARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!
Question: my mom she works in this school in Maryland buut there is meningeitis(not sure on spelling)so do u think she will catch it?!?! I AM TOTTALLY SCARED!!!!!!! and it is bacteria that effects ur brain..and what are the syptoms?? thanx...
-Bridget
Answers: my mom she works in this school in Maryland buut there is meningeitis(not sure on spelling)so do u think she will catch it?!?! I AM TOTTALLY SCARED!!!!!!! and it is bacteria that effects ur brain..and what are the syptoms?? thanx...
-Bridget
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a common name for infections that take place in the membranes (called meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by viruses and by bacteria. One of the most serious forms of meningitis is caused by bacteria known as meningococci.
Meningococcal Disease and Meningitis
An infection with meningococcal bacteria causes a serious, potentially fatal infection called meningococcal disease1. You may have heard it referred to as bacterial meningitis. This Web site will focus on meningococcal disease, including meningitis.
Meningococcal disease can affect the meninges, causing meningitis. It can also cause a very serious condition called sepsis (also known as blood poisoning).
Each year, about 3000 people in the United States become infected with the bacteria, and as many as 1 in 10 of those people die2.
As deadly as meningococcal disease can be, most cases in the United States (up to 83 percent of cases in adolescents and young adults) could potentially be prevented by a single vaccination.3,4
Viral Meningitis
Another form of meningitis is caused by a virus. Viral meningitis is serious, but usually not life-threatening. Most patients with viral meningitis get better on their own in 7 to 10 days.
Who gets meningitis?
Even people who are usually healthy can get meningitis. However, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have shown that the risk of getting meningitis increases in teens and young adults.1,3
How does a person catch meningitis?
Although meningitis is uncommon, a person can catch it by having close personal contact with a person who is sick with the disease. There are also people who can carry the bacteria in their nose and throat but never become sick. Contact with these carriers can also cause someone to become infected with meningitis.2
Experts believe that some behaviors can put people at greater risk for getting meningitis. These include:2,4,5,22
Living in close quarters, such as college dormitories
Being in crowded situations for prolonged periods of time
Sharing drinking glasses, water bottles, or eating utensils
Kissing
Smoking or being exposed to smoke
Activities that make people run-down and may weaken the immune system, such as staying out late and having irregular sleeping patterns
How can a person prevent meningitis?
While there isn