How is meningitis contracted?

Answer 1

It depends on whether you are concerned about viral meningitis or bacterial meningitis. Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing). Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as things like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

Viral meningitis is caused by any of a number of different viruses, many of which are associated with other diseases. About half of the cases in the United States are caused by common intestinal viruses. Occasionally, children with mumps or herpes virus infection develop viral meningitis. Mosquito-borne viruses also cause some cases each year. In many cases, a specific virus cannot be identified. The way people get viral meningitis depends on the virus involved. Some viruses that cause viral meningitis are spread by person-to-person contact; others are spread by insects. Fortunately, very few people who become infected with these viruses actually develop meningitis.

Answer 2

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is caused by either bacteria or virus. Less common causes include fungi, protozoa, and other parasites.
They are contracted like every day illnessess. The infection can start anywhere, including in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary system, but the most common source is the respiratory tract. It may get resolved like any other normal everyday illnessess, but if one is immunocomprimised or children -- they spread to the meninges from an infection in another part of the body. In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria spread directly to the meninges from a severe nearby infection, such as a serious ear infection (otitis media) or nasal sinus infection (sinusitis). Bacteria may also enter the central nervous system after severe head trauma or head surgery.
People with less competent immune systems, such as the very young or those whose immune systems have been compromised by disease, are more at risk for all types of meningitis.

Answer 3

How Do You Contract Meningitis?
Doctors Say Bacteria Live Inside Everyone

UPDATED: 7:16 pm EDT May 7, 2003

CLEVELAND -- Doctors know how to treat meningitis and they know how it is transmitted, but there is still a lot that they don't know.


Source: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

The bacteria that causes meningitis live inside all of us -- in our throats -- but rarely do they pose a threat.

Only one strain of the bacteria is contagious, and it can pass only through close human contact.

"Sharing toys, sharing utensils -- it has to be in contact with the saliva of the patients," Dr. Grace McComsey of Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital said. "It cannot be transmitted by passing someone in the mall."

In some cases, the body can fight off the meningitis bacteria and recover on its own. But in other cases, it ravages the body in a matter of hours with little warning.

"(You'll have a) little bit of fever, then within hours you're comatose or dead," McComsey said.

McComsey said that as scary as it might sound, unless your child had direct physical contact with an infected person, there's little chance that he or she will get sick.

Parents can take measures to prevent meningitis.

"A vaccine may be helpful at this point, because (as) I said earlier, we may see some cases within the next few weeks," she said. "To even vaccinate now may have some benefit."

The meningitis vaccine is available through your doctor and lasts up to 10 years.

"You shouldn't share any utensils or any toothbrush or anything with anybody, (and) you should never drink from the same container," McComsey said.

The origin of the meningitis bacteria is still a mystery. There are about 3,000 cases of meningitis every year in the United States.

MENINGITIS
# Meningitis: What Is It? | FAQS
# Resources: Recovery | Statistics
# More: Symptoms In Children
# Link: National Meningitis Association

SYMPTOMS
# High fever
# Headache
# Stiff neck
# Nausea/Vomiting
# Sleepiness
# Confusion

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How is meningitis contracted?

Answer 5

i believe it is a bacteria that is contracted through the skin like an infection

Answer 6

Think of it like being around someone with a flu that is really bad. If you are exposed, you risk getting it, too!

Answer 7

http://www.dhpe.org/infect/Bacmeningitis.html.
I had this 3 years ago. And lived.

Answer 8

it is usually a virus...and like a virus it can be gotten from others.