1. Meningitis

2. What is Meningitis
• Means inflammation of the meninges, the brain
lining
• Caused be several different bacteria and viruses
• Bacterial meningitis is quite rare - very serious
and needs urgent treatment with antibiotics
• There are about 2000 reported cases each year
in the UK
• There are two forms
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal

3. How Serious is it?
• If treated early most people make a full recovery
• In some cases it can be fatal or lead to
permanent handicaps like deafness and brain
damage

4. Viral Meningitis
• This is more common than bacterial
• Rarely life threatening, it can severely
weaken a person
• It cannot be helped by antibiotics and
treatments is based on good nursing care
• Recovery is normally complete but
headaches, tiredness and depression may
persist

5. How is Bacterial Meningitis
Spread?
• The germs are very common and live in
the back of the nose and throat
• It is only rarely that they overcome the
body's defences and cause meningitis
• Spread by coughing, sneezing and
kissing, but they cannot livelong outside
the body and cannot be picked up from
water supplies, swimming pools, building
or factories

6. What is Septicaemia?
• Some bacteria that cause meningitis can also
cause septicaemia (blood poisoning) as well as
meningitis
• Septicaemia can develop quickly
• A rash appears under the skin
• If untreated they get bigger and become multiple
areas of obvious bleeding under the skin
• The rash must be taken seriously - a doctor
should be called immediately

7. How is Meningitis Treated?
• Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial
meningitis
• They are also prescribed for the
immediate family members or any others
who are in very close contact
• Antibiotics are not used for viral meningitis