With early antibiotic treatment, the risk of bacterial meningitis being fatal is less than 15 percent, however, there is still a 10 to 15 percent chance of permanent brain damage. The level of damage depends on how much swelling and inflammation occurs near the brain. The stroke like effects caused by the swelling can include :
How common is bacterial meningitis ?
Approximately 3,000 people in the United States or one in 100,000 are diagnosed with bacterial meningitis each year, most of them infants, children, college students and the elderly. Incidences of bacterial meningitis usually peak in the winter or early spring. "In the summer, most cases of people coming in with headaches and other symptoms are more likely to have viral and not bacterial meningitis," says Dr. Goldmann. "But if there's a case of meningitis, it's important to find out what kind it is."
Is there a vaccine available for bacterial meningitis ?
The most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children, Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib), has been almost eliminated due to a vaccine that was developed at Children's Hospital Boston in 1990. Before then, approximately 10,000 children were diagnosed with meningitis each year and five percent of them did not survive. The Hib immunization is now a routine childhood vaccination that prevents hundreds of deaths a year.
The rate of another major cause of bacterial meningitis the pneumococcus bacteria also has been reduced dramatically by the widespread use of Prevnar pneumococcal vaccine. Meningococcal vaccine, specifically for meningococcus bacteria, is recommended for students entering dormitory situations in high school or college. It is effective for three to five years, however, it does not protect against all strains of meningococcus bacteria.
Source : Reviewed by Don Goldmann, MD, Senior Associate in Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston, specializing in bacterial infections, clinical effectiveness, and infection control; and Marvin Harper, MD, Assistant in Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston, specializing in pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric infectious diseases, travel and geographic medicine.
Please keep in mind that the text provided is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment.
The above information thankfully comes from the childrenshospital.org at the following link.
