How rare is meningitis when you take precautions?!


Question: How rare is meningitis when you take precautions!?
I don't kiss, drink, after anyone!. I wash my hands and stopped chewing my nails!. I got the vaccine too!.

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Answers:
Meningitis is a term that only refers to inflammation of the membranes lining your brain and spinal cord!. It's not exactly a disease in and of itself- it's more a symptom caused by one!. It may have either a bacterial or viral cause!. The vaccination covers you for a type of bacterial infection which can cause it- but that doesn't cover all of the
causes!. This site should help clear matters for you!.
http://kidshealth!.org/kid/health_problem!.!.!.

Bacterial meningitis is the type you are most likely to catch!. Most of those gerbies are spread through droplets produced when somebody sneezes or coughs!. However it's mostly a risk of close contact, not casual contact like you'd have a school, but where you have large numbers of people of course it becomes more of a concern!. You sound like you are taking the biggest precaution, which is to wash your hands!. As long as you consistently wash your hands before you eat, chances are you aren't going to catch much at all!. As far as kissing goes, well- if you are close enough to somebody to be at the kissing stage, you are already in close enough contact that germ swapping has already happened!. However, as long as the kissee isn't ill, the kisser should do just fine!. I can't say about being called a dork, although if you don't bring attention to the matter, chances are most folks won't notice!. For those who do, simply stating that you don't know them well enough to swap bodily fluids should end that conversation fairly quickly!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Don't become overly concerned about contracting meningitis (or hepatitis, for that matter!.) The simple steps and precautions you mention are good to fight not only these diseases, but lots of flus, viruses and colds as well!. Unless you have some compromised immune system caused by some other medical condition, you should not be unduly concerned about ordinary human contact if you take ordinary sanitation precautions!.

There are various forms of meningitis, so some of the ways you mention can prevent transmission from one person to another; but the vaccine is only for one form, which fortunately, is now very rare in the US!.

Bacterial Meningitis
There are several types of bacterial meningitis!. Two types represent the majority of bacterial meningitis cases:

meningococcal

pneumococcal


The bacteria that cause these cases are common and live in the back of the nose and throat, or in the upper respiratory tract!.

The bacteria are spread among people by coughing, sneezing and kissing!. These bacteria cannot live outside the body for long, so they cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, or a building's air-conditioning system!.

Individuals can carry these bacteria for days, weeks, or months without becoming ill!. In fact, about 25 percent of the population carries the bacteria!. Only rarely do the bacteria overcome the body's defenses and invade the cerebra spinal fluid, causing meningitis!.


Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is far more common than the bacterial form and, in most cases, much less debilitating!. Most people exposed to viruses that cause meningitis experience mild or no symptoms and fully recover without complications!. '

The disease can be caused by many different viruses!. Some of the viruses are transmitted by coughing or sneezing or through poor hygiene!. Other viruses can be found in sewage polluted waters!.

Occasionally, viral meningitis will develop following the mumps or chicken pox!. Mosquito-born viruses also account for a few cases each year!.

Approximately half of the viral cases in the United States are due to common intestinal viruses, or enteroviruses!. These viruses are shed in the feces and in discharges from the mouth and nose!. Most people who become infected with the virus contract it through hand-to-mouth contact!.


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