What is meningitis?

Following an incident involving the death of a suspected Meningitis Patient in Potchefstroom over the weekend, the ER24 Clinical Team have composed the following info.

Meningitis is inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). There are many causes, and infection may be one of these causes. If infection is thought to be the cause, it may be bacterial, viral or another organism. It occasionally presents with severe signs such as a rash and shock which should be taken seriously.
REMEMBER: NOT ALL CAUSES OF MENINGITIS ARE INFECTIOUS.

It’s easy to misdiagnose meningitis as the flu. Meningitis signs and symptoms may develop over several hours or over one or two days.

The signs and symptoms that may occur in anyone older than age of 2 include:
• Sudden high fever
• Severe headache that isn’t easily confused with other types of headache
• Stiff neck
• Vomiting or nausea with headache
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Seizures
• Sleepiness or difficulty waking up
• Sensitivity to light
• Lack of interest in drinking and eating
• Skin rash in some cases, such as in meningococcal meningitis

Remember, viral meningitis will most likely improve without any treatment, but a patient should see a doctor if any of the signs above develop.

Meningococcal meningitis is an important but uncommon cause of meningitis and septicaemia in children and young adults around the world.
Causative organism: Neisseria Meningitidis.
Meningococcal infections occur worldwide. Seasonal variation is common (typically dry weather in South Africa).

RISK
Over 95% of meningococcal cases are sporadic and have no identifiable contact. While the risk even for close contacts of cases is low, it is highest in people who live in the same household as a case of meningococcal disease. This is mostly likely to be due to infection spreading in the household from an asymptomatic carrier.

The incubation period is 3-4 days (range 2-10)

Fever and a low blood pressure or slow pulse should heighten the index of suspicion.

Early on, the rash may look like rubella or measles. The classic rash is petechial or purpuric in nature and does not fade if you push a drinking glass against it. The rash may be absent.

What to do if you’re in contact with somebody who has had Meningitis:

DO NOT PANIC
A reminder: Most cases of meningitis are not infectious.
Try to establish which type of meningitis was involved (the infectious or non infectious).
Remember, the contagious types of meningitis are monitored by the Department of Health, so they will most likely contact you if there is a concern for spread of the organism.
Keep a close watch on your temperature, and look for any flu like symptoms for the next 10 days.

If in doubt, discuss your concerns with a health care practitioner.

There is No need for Panic