Brain and ENT Clinic – Dr Lalit Mahajan In Nagpur & Dr Rachna Gangwani Mahajan In Nagpur
Neuroinfection
Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Every year over 1 million people worldwide are affected by meningitis.
Infection is by far the most common cause of meningitis and is caused by many different germs: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
- Bacterial meningitis, which is the most severe and common form of meningitis, causes around 170,000 deaths globally every year.
- Even with prompt diagnosis and treatment, approximately 10- 20% of patients with bacterial meningitis will die within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, and around 10-30% will sustain permanent damage and disability.
- Infants and children under five years old and adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age are most at risk. But anyone in the world can get meningitis at any time.
- Those surviving meningitis can have their lives devastated as a result of long-term effects, such as deafness, brain damage, learning difficulties, seizures, difficulties with physical activities and loss of limbs (due to septicaemia).
- Many people don’t know the warning signs or that many types of meningitis are vaccine-preventable.