Be aware of the causes of meningitis and its risk factors & bull; hello healthy

Meningitis, which is inflammation of the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord, is generally caused by infection. However, the causes of meningitis can also come from certain diseases or conditions such as cancer, lupus, and the effects of medical treatment. Infections that can cause inflammation of the lining of the brain are viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Each of these causes can lead to a different severity of meningitis symptoms.

Various infections cause meningitis

Infection is the main cause of meningitis, especially viruses and bacteria. Other microorganisms or pathogens such as fungi and parasites can also infect the protective membranes of the central nervous system. However, the cases are rare compared to viral infections.

Inflammation of the lining of the brain caused by infection means that it can be passed from one person to another. The mode of transmission of meningitis itself occurs through contact and splashing of the patient's saliva when sneezing, coughing, and kissing. Some infections are also transmitted through the genital tract.

In a study entitled Infectious Meningitis, it is explained that the pathogens that cause meningitis that enter through the mouth will first damage cells in the skin, respiratory tract or digestive tract to become their host.

After successfully invading cells, pathogens will move through blood vessels or nerves that lead to the brain until they multiply in the lining of the meninges and cause inflammation.

The following are types of infectious meningitis, which are differentiated based on the microorganisms that cause them.

1. Viral meningitis

Most cases of meningitis in the world are caused by viral infections. Viral meningitis occurs most often in children, adolescents and young adults.

The symptoms of viral meningitis are usually milder than for other infections. Therefore, viral meningitis does not cause severe and prolonged illness. This disease can be cured through proper menigitis treatment. In very mild symptoms, meningitis can get better on its own.

Of the Enterovirus virus group, 85% of them cause meningitis. This infection is more common in summer and autumn. The types of viruses are:

• Coxsackievirus A
• Coxsackievirus B
• Echoviruses

In addition, viral meningitis can also be caused by viruses which are the main causes of disease:

• Herpes simplex virus causes oral and genital herpes
• Varicella zoster causes chickenpox
• HIV
• Measles
• Enterovirus

Antiviral and pain relievers will usually be given in the treatment of meningitis caused by viral infections.

2. Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord caused by a bacterial infection. This type of meningitis can have serious health effects and can even be life threatening.

In addition, illness is often accompanied by other serious illnesses such as sepsis which can cause tissue damage, organ failure and death.

Symptoms usually appear within 3 to 7 days of infection. There are several types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. Some of the main causes of bacterial meningitis are:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae also known as Pneumococcus
• Neisseria meningitidis also known as Meningococcus
• Haemophilus influenzae or Hib
• Streptococcus suis causes of swine meningitis
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Group B Streptococcus
• E. coli

The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis can be made through a lumbar puncture examination. However, the type of bacteria that causes meningitis can be difficult to determine.

Not all bacteria that cause meningitis are passed from one person to another. You can also get bacterial meningitis after eating certain foods that contain the Listeria bacterium such as cheese.

Swine meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis transmitted to humans through close or direct contact with infected pigs. Transmission of these bacteria occurs through skin that is injured or infected.

Treatment for bacterial meningitis requires the consumption of antibiotics as soon as possible such as cetriaxone, benzylpenicillin, vancomycin, and trimethoprim.

3. Fungal meningitis

Compared to viral and bacterial meningitis, meningitis caused by fungi is less common. People who have a weak immune system such as people with HIV / AIDS and cancer are very at risk of contracting this type of meningitis

This disease can occur when a person inhales the spores of the fungus which then causes inflammation in the lining of the brain or spinal cord. However, people with fungal meningitis cannot pass the fungus that causes meningitis to other people.

According to the CDC, some of the most common types of fungi that cause meningitis are:

• Cryptococcus: found in soil, rotting wood, and bird droppings.
• Blastomyces: can be found in environments where there is a lot of bird droppings.
• Histoplasma: lives in soil or damp surfaces, wood and decaying leaves.
• Coccidioides: live in dry soil and environment.

Fungi that live in human skin tissue such as Candida can also cause infection in the lining of the meninges. Even so, skin fungus can also stay in the body without causing any disturbance.

4. Parasitic meningitis

Parasitic infections that cause meningitis are rarer than those caused by viral or bacterial infections. Parasites that cause inflammation of the lining of the brain can be found in contaminated soil, feces, animals and meat.

There are three main parasites that cause inflammation of the lining of the brain, namely:

• Angiostrongylus cantonensis
• Baylisascaris procyonis
• Gnathostoma spinigerum

Apart from the three parasites above, there is also a rare type of meningitis caused by the Eosinophilic parasite known as eosinophilic meningitis disease.

Similar to a yeast infection, inflammation of the lining of the brain due to parasites is not transmitted from person to person.

The parasite that causes meningitis usually enters the human body through contact with infected animals or the flesh of infected animals eaten by humans. Raccoons are among the animals most frequently infected with parasites that cause inflammation of the lining of the brain.

Non-infectious causes of meningitis

Pathogenic infection is not the only cause of meningitis. Inflammation of the lining of the brain can also be caused by certain medications and diseases.

This type of non-infectious meningitis cannot be transmitted, but still needs to be watched out. Symptoms can be more diverse and accompanied by complaints caused by the disease causing it. The treatment will also be adjusted to the conditions that caused it.

Conditions that can cause inflammation of the lining of the brain include:

• Take chemical drugs. The use of several types of antibiotic anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause complications such as inflammation of the lining of the brain. The same complications can also be caused by cancer treatment.
• Autoimmune disease. A number of findings suggest an association between lupus and sarcoidosis and meningitis. In this condition, inflammation of the meninges is known, but no infection-causing organisms are found.
• Cancer. Cancer cells, even if they do not originate from the central nervous system, can move and cause inflammation in the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
• Syphilis and HIV. Infections that cause sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and HIV can attack the lining of the meninges.
• Tuberculosis. Tuberculous meningitis occurs when the bacterial infection that causes tuberculosis has attacked the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord.
• Head injury
• Brain surgery

Risk factors for meningitis

Several things can make a person more susceptible to contracting meningitis, whether caused by infection or other factors. You need to be more vigilant if you have risk factors for meningitis such as:

• Age

People of all ages can get meningitis. Most cases of viral meningitis occur in children younger than 5 years. Meningitis caused by bacteria is common in people under 20 years of age.

• Not vaccinated

The risk is increased in people who do not get the recommended meningitis vaccines for both children and adults.

• Travel

Going to an area with a high incidence of meningitis infection or to a country that has not been visited before will increase the risk. Likewise with people who want to worship in the holy land, but do not inject meningitis for Hajj and Umrah.

• Environment

Isolated environments such as dormitories, prisons, day care centers allow the spread of microorganisms that cause meningitis to take place more rapidly and widely.

People who work in certain environments such as breeders who have frequent direct contact with pigs are at risk of contracting swine meningitis. Likewise with slaughterhouse workers, animal transporters, and market meat sellers who can contract the parasites that cause meningitis.

• Pregnancy

Pregnancy increases the risk of listeriosis, an infection caused by the bacteria listeria, which can also cause meningitis. Listeriosis increases the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth.

• A vulnerable immune system

AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes, use of immunosuppressant drugs and other factors that affect the immune system can make a person more susceptible to meningitis. Certain treatment procedures also increase the risk.

Therefore, patients who are going to carry out removal or transplantation of organs such as the spleen should be vaccinated against meningitis in order to minimize the risk.

Meningitis can be caused by various things, such as viral, bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases, or consumption of certain drugs. Various risk factors can also make a person more susceptible to this inflammatory disease of the lining of the brain.

Immediately consult a doctor if you find that you may be infected with the cause of meningitis, the doctor will do a meningitis examination to confirm your health condition.