Meningitis
By Juan Carlos Rosas at St. Philips College
Abstract
Today’s technology has advanced medical practices
worldwide with development of prophylactics,
vaccines,
medications,
and
diagnostic
methodologies. With such advances happening
every day and advanced practices available to those
who seek medical care when ill. One must be aware
of the illnesses and diseases can an individual to
become ill. One of these illnesses that can affect
individuals is meningitis. This is an illness that can
be self-resolving or one that can be extremely fatal.
The following passage will present you with
different causes of meningitis, explain what are the
different pathogens, and how medical devices and
their technology aid in diagnosis and treatment of
meningitis.
Meningitis
the mumps virus, herpes-viruses, HIV, and several
mosquito-borne viruses (Bunyavirus and flavivirus)
usually associated with encephalitis” (Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 2013). Viral meningitis is
caused by some common viruses that are
opportunistic infections in immunocompromised
patients. Viral infections of meningitis are known to
be passed by the-fecal-oral mode of transmission
and symptoms include fever, muscle stiffness. The
following are the different types of bacterium that
cause Meningitis “A variety of organisms can cause
bacterial meningitis…Haemophilus influenzae b,
Streptococcus pneumonia, Neisseria meningitidis”
(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2013). The
bacterial form of meningitis is the most dangerous
causing symptoms such as convulsions, high fever
and delirium. It is spread though nasal secretions
and most prevalent in close quarters living
environments. The other form of meningitis is
caused by fungi such as “opportunistic infection
with Cryptococcus neoformans,... other causes
include coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis.”
(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2013). Fungal
meningitis
is
on
that
will
affect
immunocompromised individual such as children
and elderly as well as individuals with certain
immunodeficiency diseases.
Meningitis is the name of disease that is got its name
from the composition of meninges and –itis.
Meninges are the part of the human body that is
affected by the pathogens and –itis means
inflammation. This is the name of the disease that
causes inflammation of the meninges, in the Central Anatomy and Physiology
Nerves System of the human body.
The meninges are what have become inflamed in
patients who have contracted a form of meningitis
About Meningitis
infection.
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis sounds and looks like the word
meninges. This is because the definition is “acute
inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that
cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. It can be
caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other
organisms, usually introduced via the bloodstream
from infections elsewhere in the body” (Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 2013). Meningitis is a
term that is given to a disease that is able to cross the
blood brain barrier in the human body and cause an
infection. This infection will cause inflammation of
the meninges or epithelial cells of the brain and
spinal cord. This disease can be cause by many
different types of bacterium viruses and fungi.
“Viral meningitis sometimes referred to as nonbacterial or aseptic meningitis is milder and more
common than bacterial forms. It can be caused by
any of a number of viruses, including enteroviruses,
“The meninges (singular, meninx) are protective
coverings of the brain (cranial meninges) and spinal
cord (spinal meninges). They consist of three layers
of membranous connective tissue: The dura-mater is
the outer layer, arachnoid mater is the middle menix,
and the pia mater is the innermost meninx layer.”
(Pack, P. E., & Cliffs Notes, I. (2001).
The three layers of the meninges encase and protect
the CNS. The dura-mater is the outermost layer of
the meninges and has the toughest tissue for
protection of the CNS. The arachnoid mater is the
middle layer of the meninges and is not as thick as
the dura-mater and, not as delicate as the pia-mater.
It is where the CSF is transferred from the CNS to
the blood stream. The pia-mater is the most delicate
and innermost layer of the meninges. It is in direct
contact with the brain and the spinal cord and does
not allow fluids to permeate thus keeping the
cushion of CST in place. It also allows access of the
blood vessels to nourish the brain.