FAQ - Meningitis
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Where can I go to get a Meningitis vaccine?


I'm going to college, and had planned on commuting since dorms were not available. Something happened, and now all of a sudden I can get one when I wasn't planning on it. Long story short, I need to get a meningitis shot in the next week. Where can I find one? I called the local walk-in clinic, they don't have it, neither does my doctor.
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Try the Center for Disease Control, travel agents, or hospitals that have immunizations for international travel. If you want to call another doctor, try one who specializes in infectious diseases. One last thought—can your school make any recommendations about resources?  (+ info)

What kind of meningitis causes you to break out into spots that look like bruises?


My sister died in my arms when i was 6 (she was only 2). She died of meningitis but i wasnt for sure which one? i would really like to know, so i can get into deeper research.
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The first answerer obviously got confused. However his remarks track for pimples, generally speaking, allowing for allergic reactions to cause problems with ordinarily harmless foods like chocolate. Your sister had diagnosed meningitis, and bruise-like spots showed up. This sounds like Meningo Toxemia (if I remember how to spell it!), which can cause loss of limbs, or in your sister's case, more than that. Exactly why certain people get it and others don't, remains a mystery. Good luck with your research. Regards, Larry.  (+ info)

How often do you need to receive the meningitis vaccine?


I received the meningitis vaccination 4 years ago so I was wondering when I would need to receive it again. I work at a hospital so I would say that I'm in a high-risk group. Thanks.
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According to the CDC website:

• One dose of the meningitis vaccine is needed.

• If previous vaccine was MPSV4, revaccinate after 5yrs if risk continues.

•Revaccination after MCV4 is not recommended.

•MCV4 is preferred over MPSV4 for persons age 55yrs and younger, although MPSV4 is an acceptable alternative.

So, it would depend on what meningitis vaccine you received four years ago.

Good luck!  (+ info)

How long does it take to get over viral meningitis?


My daughter, aged 20 is still feeling ill one week after being diagnosed with viral meningitis. She is nauseous and wants to know if it is normal and how long it takes to go away. She is not eating, feels completely helpless and just wants to sleep all the time. Has anyone been through this and what advice can you give. All advice will be appreciated. Thank you.
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Viral Meningitis can take month's to recover from, as sufferer's can develop a post-viral syndrome that causes severe fatigue, and associated symptoms such as headaches. It is a syndrome like chronic fatigue. The general period of disease of viral meningitis can typically last up to one week, with symptoms gradually lessening. If you believe recovery is not moving fast enough, I would check in with your doctor.  (+ info)

How long does the meningitis vaccination last?


I got my meningitis vaccination in 2002. Now I'm a fifth year student living in college and the health services here don't event know when how long the vaccination lasts....which sucks badly.
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It never had any valid effect.


Do not get vaccinated. There is no scientific proof that the theory of vaccination is valid, yet there is considerable proof that Vaccines cause illness and death.

Just sit back and think about it for a while. Does it feel like sense to inject a disease directly into your bloodstream?
The way to avoid disease is to strengthen the immune system. Vaccination weakens it.


The Vaccination Hoax
http://www.whale.to/b/hoax1.html

A Detailed history of vaccination
http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/vaccination.html  (+ info)

How does one disinfect after someone has been diagnosed for Meningitis?


Someone at my mother's work has contracted Meningitis (don't know yet if bacterial, viral, or parasitic, but can assume not the last) and obviously people are concerned. How is it spread and how contagious is it? And if it is bacterial, how do they disinfect the office (and people) because my mother is afraid of being an asymptomatic carrier, and infecting my grandparents or myself...
I realize the bacterial variety is contagious, but how much so?
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It is contagious.
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html  (+ info)

What's the difference between Viral, bacterial and fungal meningitis?


I know that they're all different types obviously, bacterial being the most severe. But what's the difference? How does it affect the meninges different and body systems etc?

Also..is meningitis just caused frm typical bacteria that just gets spread through the blood into the spinal fluid?
For example makes bacterial so much worse than viral and how can viral disappear on it's own where bacterial, treatment is necessary.
The MAIN thing I need to know is WHY bacterial is so much more harmful than viral. Like, if both affect the meninges, why is viral so much less serious?
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Viral meningitis can be caused by many different viruses, including common intestinal viruses and viruses associated with mumps and herpes infection. In some cases, people can get viral meningitis from drinking polluted water.

The viruses that cause meningitis are contagious, but most people who become infected don't actually develop meningitis. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears up within one to two weeks.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious and frequently fatal illness. Even treated early, it can result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disabilities. Some forms of bacterial meningitis such as meningococcal meningitis are highly contagious. The bacteria are spread though coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items such as eating utensils or toothbrushes with an infected person. Bacteria commonly identified as causing meningitis are Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenza, group B streptococcus (in newborns) and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Other less common bacteria include tuberculosis, Listeria, Staphlococcus and Salmonella.

Fungal and parasitic meningitis are relatively uncommon. Fungal meningitis is more common in people with a weakened immune system.

Viral meningitis usually doesn't require treatment, although certain types of viral meningitis such as herpes meningitis (HSV1) must be treated with antiviral agents to prevent complications or even death. Doctors often recommend bed rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and headache. Most people completely recover on their own.

Bacterial meningitis needs to be treated immediately to prevent serious complications and death. A number of antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial meningitis, depending on the organism causing the infection. Other medications may also be used to treat symptoms and prevent permanent damage from the disease.  (+ info)

Is it ok to get a tattoo shortly after a meningitis and tetatnus shot?


I'm due for both a meningitis and tetatnus shot within the next few weeks before going away to college, but I have a tattoo aapointment scheduled in 3 weeks. Will the shot have any effect on how my body reacts to the tattoo?
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cancel the tattoo...
jst incase.!!!!!!!  (+ info)

What are the chances of catching meningitis?


What are the chances of getting meningitis?
How about if you have had a vaccination?
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That depends on a number of things, two of which involve the type of meningitis and the susceptibility of the patient.

When I say type, I mean there are a number of organisms that have the capacity to initiate meningitis on a person. And depending on the organism, the chances of acquiring meningitis increases with the pathogenicity of the organism. The chances of contracting meningitis from Neisseria meningitidis (specifically called Epidemic Spinal Meningitis), is much higher than, say, Streptococcus pneumoniae and perhaps even higher than from a viral organism that can cause viral meningitis. One also has to take into account the area where a person lives in; tropical countries and countries where poor hygiene is rampant are the ones with the greater chances of contraction as opposed to here in the United States where proper hygiene and cleanliness are observed. Health care issues are to be considered as well because patients who are infected and have meningitis often transmit the infectious agent to another person, thereby increasing the likelihood of others acquiring the disease as well.

This, then, goes to the second aspect of catching meningitis, which is the susceptibility of the patient. Some people can still tolerate infections in their body and not elicit symptoms of meningitis, mainly because the infection is controlled. Some patients, however, are susceptible even to the opportunistic pathogens, that is organisms that normally cause infections when a patient is already sick, have just gotten sick and starting to recover, or one whose immune system is compromised. Vaccination against meningitis offers some degree of protection, but one must put to mind that it is only temporary. Temporary in the sense that it does not last for a lifetime and the organisms covered by a meningitis vaccine may only be limited, meaning it may cover at most 2 organisms and leaving the other organisms that can cause the same disease behind. This is true with other vaccines as well.

In short, the chances of contracting meningitis depends mainly on the two I have described above. However, proper hygiene and healthy diet can decrease the risk of contracting meningitis. As a side note, I worked once in a medical microbiology lab and have cultured Neisseria meningitis in a number of plate media. I guess I'm okay because once the symptoms of Epidemic Spinal Meningitis initiate and no medical intervention is performed, I could have died approximately 8 hours upon exposure. This is not meant to scare you or anyone about meningitis, but to let you be aware that such organisms are not easily found everywhere because, like us humans, they need the right environment to sustain their growth. Perhaps knowing the precautions are more significant to avoid getting infected and getting sick.

I hope this helps!  (+ info)

Is there another way to find out you have meningitis besides a spinal tap?


What are the most sirius side affects from meningitis? How do you find out you have meningitis besides a spinal tap?
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The most serious effect from meningitis is of course, death.

However, there a quite a few other serious effects, such as hearing loss, vision loss, brain damage, loss of limb(s), personality change, memory loss, attention difficulty, learning disabilities, etc.

Meningitis is a serious illness. It's not something to "wait and see" how you feel tomorrow. If you think you may have meningitis you need to see the doctor immediately or go to the hospital.

There are two types of meningitis...viral and bacterial. Bacterial is the more serious one and can kill a person in a matter of hours, but it is also less common. Viral meningitis is much more common, but it is rarely fatal.

Bacterial meningitis is treated with powerful IV antibiotics. Viral meningitis is fought off by your immune system. Most people with viral meninigitis recuperate at home, but some need medical support if they get hit hard with it.

But to know if it is meningitis for sure and to found out which it is, you need a spinal tap. If you go to the hospital, if they suspect meningitis, they will usually start you on IV antibiotics right away. They do this because if it is bacterial, you could be dead by the time they find out which it is. They generally do blood tests first to check for bacteria, then a CT scan for brain pressure, and then a spinal tap to find out for sure whether it's viral or bacterial, and if it's bacteria...which bacteria it is that's responsible so they can give you more specialized antibiotics.

After those are done, then they send the spinal fluid out to the lab to be cultured...meaning to see if they can grow any bacteria out of it. This takes 48 hours. If they can't grow anything, then they know it was viral. But usually, the preliminary work on the spinal fluid is correct...meaning if they don't find anything in the fluid at first, it's unlikely to grow anything later. But they have to be sure before they stop the antibiotics.

Spinal taps are not the horror stories you've heard. Like root canals, they have a scary sound because of the stories you've heard, but they're not that bad. It's basically an IV, but in your back instead of your arm. Like an epidural for childbirth.

My 6-year old had one and barely even cried. She had it done when she had meningitis. Luckily, it was viral, but she got hit hard and was hospitalized for several days. She's good now, but she did have a minor personality change from it, and she still gets headaches from time to time. But the spinal tap was a piece of cake for her. She barely cried.  (+ info)

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