There are several forms of meningitis, all of which affect the meninges, or the protective coating that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. When meningitis occurs, the fluid and the meninges become inflamed, leading to painful, often severe and sometimes deadly symptoms.
Though all forms of meningitis present in more or less the same ways, some are more serious than others. Two types in particular — bacterial meningitis and amoebic meningitis — can cause severe and life-long complications, if they do not result in death.
Bacterial meningitis is a type of infectious meningitis that occurs when certain bacteria enters the body and travels to the brain or spinal cord, thereby causing the membranes to become infected. When the membranes surrounding the brain or spinal cord become infected, they begin to swell and press on these essential nerves or muscles, causing painful and life-threatening problems. Bacterial meningitis can develop quickly. Once it does, symptoms can rapidly worsen.
Though several types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis, some of the more common culprits are as follows:
Though anyone can develop bacterial meningitis, it is most common in babies younger than one and in teens and young adults between the ages of 16 and 21.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis typically develop suddenly and progress quickly. In the earlier stages of the illness, individuals may experience the following:
These symptoms can quickly progress to include swelling of the head, frequent crying in children, vomiting, irritability, lack of appetite and seizures. Once these latter symptoms begin, an individual is already in a more advanced stage of meningitis.
Because bacterial meningitis can go from moderate to severe in a matter of hours, it is crucial that, should you or a loved one develop early-stage symptoms, you seek emergency medical care right away. The sooner you receive treatment, the better the outlook and long-term prognosis.
Bacterial meningitis can become severe and life-threatening within a matter of hours. Without prompt treatment, afflicted persons may begin to have seizures, develop hearing loss and sustain brain damage. Once these complications arise, the chance for a full recovery becomes minimal. Individuals who do survive go on to live with life-long disabilities.
Though many people with bacterial meningitis make a full recovery, untreated cases often result in death. Per the data, as many as one in 10 individuals who develop bacterial meningitis will die, while one in five will develop serious complications. Unfortunately, both these facts remain true even for people who receive prompt and adequate treatment.
Fortunately, bacterial meningitis can be treated. If your doctor suspects you have bacterial meningitis, he or she will put you on several antibiotics to kill off the bacteria that is causing it. Once labs confirm the type of bacteria present, he or she will reduce the number of antibiotics you are on to one. Your medical team will likely administer the antibiotics via an IV for the quickest results. To help reduce the inflammation, your doctor may also prescribe a corticosteroid. He or she will also likely recommend plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Bacterial meningitis is the most severe of the more common forms of meningitis. However, primary amoebic meningitis is the deadliest.
Primary amoebic meningitis, or PAM, is a rare brain infection that is caused by the free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba is found in bodies of fresh water and soil around the world. It typically enters the human blood stream via the nasal cavity, such as when a person is swimming and gets water up his or her nose. In fact, most reported infections are linked to swimming in lakes, rivers, hot springs, ponds or pools. Few are linked to contaminated soil, tap water, hot water heaters and warm water discharge from power plants.
The symptoms of PAM typically develop after one to 12 days of infection. They start off mild and resemble the symptoms of milder forms of meningitis, with patients experiencing the following:
However, symptoms grow rapidly worse. Within a few hours to days of the initial onset of symptoms, infected persons develop confusion, inattention to people and their surroundings, seizures, hallucinations and coma. Almost all cases of amoebic meningitis result in death within five days of infection, though some people die within one day while others live for up to 18 days.
The survival rate for amoebic meningitis is dismal, even with treatment. In fact, per the data, the death rate is an astounding 99%, with the mean time from the onset of symptoms to death at 5.3 days. The mean time from exposure to death is 9.9 days.
Though research teams across the globe have developed several drugs that effectively combat Naegleria fowleri in a lab setting, none have come up with a drug that is effective in the human body. Even with treatment, almost all cases of infection prove fatal. For this reason, when medical teams do encounter an amoebic meningitis diagnosis, they focus much of their efforts on ensuring patients’ comfort and on keeping them pain-free in their final days.
Meningitis in general is a serious disease that comes with the very real risk of death. However, bacterial meningitis and amoebic meningitis are the most dangerous forms, often resulting in untimely death. If meningitis is a concern for you or a loved one, consult with an emergency medical team right away.