what is meningitis?

Answer 1

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord, usually due to the spread of an infection.

In the past, most meningitis cases occurred in children younger than 5 years. But as a result of the protection offered by current childhood vaccines, most meningitis cases now occur in young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Older adults also tend to have a higher incidence of meningitis than do young children.

The cause of most cases of meningitis is a viral infection, but bacterial and fungal infections also can lead to meningitis. The severity of the inflammation and the best treatment depend on the cause of the infection. Bacterial meningitis is generally much more serious than viral meningitis, and timely treatment is necessary.

Left untreated, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. If you suspect that you or someone in your family has signs or symptoms of meningitis, seek medical care right away. There's no way to tell what kind of meningitis you have without seeing your doctor and undergoing testing.-

Answer 2

What Is Meningitis?
The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is surrounded by cerebrospinal (say: suh-ree-bro-spy-nul) fluid. This fluid acts to cushion and protect the central nervous system when you move around. Even more protection is given by the meninges (say: muh-nin-jeez), which are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis (say: men-un-jye-tus) is a disease involving inflammation (swelling), or irritation, of the meninges. There are different kinds of meningitis, but most of the time it is caused by germs, especially viruses.

Meningitis gets attention because it not only makes a person feel sick, it can have lasting effects on a person's ability to think and learn. It also can cause hearing loss. But many people recover from the infection without permanent damage. And the illness is so rare, you may never know anyone who gets it.

Symptoms may include:

a very bad headache that won't go away
neck stiffness
back stiffness
eye pain or irritation when exposed to light
nausea, or being sick to the stomach
vomiting, or throwing up
body aches
fever
feeling very sleepy or unable to fully wake up
feeling very confused or out of it

Answer 3

hi!! here is the exact clinical definition of Meningitis:

Bacterial meningitis is an acute purulent infection within
the subarachnoid space. It is associated with a CNS inflammatory reaction that may result in decreased consciousness, seizures, raised intracranial pressure (ICP), and stroke. The meninges, the subarachnoid space, and the brain parenchyma are all frequently involved in the inflammatory reaction (meningoencephalitis).


Hey, dont get scared dude!! its in our medical terminology!! what it mean is : we have a thin layer upon our brain matter which protects it from the outer environment,is called the meninges. when, a virus (mainly a type of influenza virus) attacks our body immune & our body fails to protect, meninges got infected causing a fatal result. this is roughly called meningitis. ( in Latin words "itis" means inflammation, so when when u see the suffix, understand its the inflammation of that particular organ. like conjunctivitis or neuritis is the inflammation in the eye & nerves respectively) .

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thaks & regards...... sukrit

Answer 4

There are different types of meningitis. But it breaks down to mean: an inflammation of the meninges, which are located in the brain. Very serious!

Answer 5

I agree with the nurse, it is an inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord. Can be bacterial (the very dangerous form), viral (not as bad as bacterial), or related to fungus.

As far as water going up the nose from swimming in fresh water, I think he meant Naeglaria, not meningitis.

Answer 6

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the central nervous system, known as meninges. Meningitis causes,due to infectious agents, physical injury, cancer, or certain drugs.
Symptoms:
Headache,fever,photophobia (inability to tolerate bright light), phonophobia (inability to tolerate loud noises), irritability and delirium (in small children) and seizures (in 20-40% of cases). In infants (0-6 months), swelling of the fontanelle (soft spot) may be present.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

It is a form of sepsis (Infection) that causes inflammation of the membarnes of the Brain and spinal cord. Alot of people get this from diving in fresh water and water goes up their nose.

Answer 9

A virus that you don't want. It makes you sick and weak and can potentially kill you. Generally people get it when they live or socialize within close quarters to each other. They have a vaccine for it and usually teenagers and college students get it.

Answer 10

In simple language, brain fever. Needs immediate and proper treatment. It can become fatal if not diagnosed or treated on time.