 Meningitis is a serious inflammation of the meninges, the thin, membranous covering of the brain and the spinal cord. Two types:  Viral; flu like symptoms, quick recovery  Bacterial; very serious, brain damage can occur if not treated quickly

There are two types of Meningitis and the rare fungal:  Causes of Viral › Enternoviruses › Herpes Viruses › HIV › Flaviviruses  Bacterial; › There are more than 50 bacteria that cause this. Some of these Include Meningococcal, pneumococcal, TB, and E. Coli

 Almost all patients develop › -Rash-small purple/red spots that spread rapidly › -Fever  Babies › -stiff › -very floppy › -rapid breathing,  Adults › -stiff neck, › -sever headache -sensitivity to light - muscle cramps

 Person to person › Coughing › Sneezing › Sharing eating utensils, drinks, etc. with an infected person

 If suspected, a lumbar puncture (a s mall amount of fluid taken from you spine and tested) is done  Treatment includes; › Antibiotics for bacterial › Fever reducers › Medicines to reduce risk of seizures › Oxygen therapy › Fluids to prevent dehydration › Blood tests

 Meningitis vaccine  Do not expose yourself to an infected person  If exposed to an individual that is infected and you think you have symptoms, go to your doctor promptly

 You should receive your first dose at an adolescent age.  It lasts ten years  Very safe vaccine  Infants at high risk for the disease should receive it

There has been an outbreak of meningitis cases all around our state Link to Video about the outbreak listed below

 WebMD.(2010). Meningitis- Treatment Overview. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: treatment-overview WebMD.(2010). Meningitis- Treatment Overview. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: treatment-overview  Mengitiswise.(Nd).Viral Meningitis. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: causes/viral-meningitis Mengitiswise.(Nd).Viral Meningitis. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: causes/viral-meningitis  Fox 4. (2012). 12 dead in U.S. Meningitis Outbreak: first case found in Florida. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: l Fox 4. (2012). 12 dead in U.S. Meningitis Outbreak: first case found in Florida. [Accessed: 20 March 2013]. Retrieved from: l