For the past decade, bacterial meningitis rates have declined in significant amounts in the U.S.A. This infection is an inflammatory disease that affects the meninges membranes. It is a deadly disease having caused the death of thousands of persons over the years. This paper looks at some important details concerning the infection and its historical background.
The infection was first discovered in 1805 in Geneva (Brouwer, Tunkel, & Van de Beek, 2010). It was the first major outbreak of the disease. Afterwards, outbreaks were in Europe and United States. Researchers have identified three types of pathogens causing Bacterial meningitis, namely: Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Of the three, Hib was the most causing pathogen in the early years of its onset.
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The infection is spread from one person to another if they come into contact with discharges from a person throat or nose (Brouwer, Tunkel, & Van de Beek, 2010). This could happen through kissing or even when someone coughs carelessly. Mothers can also pass on the infection to their babies especially during birth. Eating foods from people who did not wash hands has also been described as a major cause. This bacteria get into one’s blood stream and make way to the brain and spinal cord where they start an infection (Brouwer, Tunkel, & Van de Beek, 2010).
The disease is diagnosed by doctors through the collection of blood samples or the cerebrospinal fluid (Hoffman, & Weber, 2009). The doctor then performs a lab test to diagnose the infection. Once one has been diagnosed with the infection, antibiotics are offered to help them recover. It is however highly advised that it be treated early in advance. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to prevent being affected by the disease. Vaccination was discovered and approved in 1978 (Hoffman, & Weber, 2009). Later on, in 2005, the meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) was discovered (Hoffman, & Weber, 2009). It is, therefore paramount that people get vaccinated against the infection to ensure that they do not end up becoming victims. Prevention has always been better than cure.
References
Brouwer, M. C.; Tunkel, A. R. & Van de Beek, D. (2010). Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Antimicrobial Treatment of Acute Bacterial Meningitis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews , 23(3), 467-492.
Hoffman, O. & Weber, R. J. (2009). Pathophysiology and Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders , 2(6), 1-7.
