The highly contagious Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus) bacterium is just one variety of the many bacteria that can cause the serious disease known as meningitis. It can even be caused by a virus strain. However, in that case the illness usually gets resolved on its own without specific treatment.
The bacterial illness involves the infection of the fluid in the meninges, which are the membranes covering the brain, and in the spinal cord. It causes septicemia, which is a serious infection of the blood. The bacteria caused illness can result in disfigurement due to amputation, deafness (permanent disability), or even death.
Because of such dangerous portents and its sometimes contagious ramifications, it is better to seek prevention against the illness rather than fight it later through treatment. To prevent the spread of the illness from one person to another, adequate care must be taken through precautions.
Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, rifampin, or ceftriaxone need to be administered to close contacts of a meningitis patient to clear the meningococcal bacteria from their throat. Vaccination can also help prevent some strains of the illness. Contagious strains of the meningococcal bacteria such as N. meningitides usually spread through exchange of throat secretions and respiratory fluids contact achieved via kissing, sneezing, and coughing.
Vaccination against the meningitis strains therefore helps in preventing the bacteria from spreading to other persons. Therefore the close contacts of meningitis patients need to remain in close contact with local or state health departments. They can also then receive the requisite follow-up besides the treatment provided to the patients.
Some of the vaccines that are used to prevent meningitis include the haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV). Other such vaccines include the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). It is important to ensure that the vaccine administered is of the requisite standard in respect of quality and safety.
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of catching the meningococcal illness. This means that if you want to remain free from the dangerous illness, you need to quit the habit. Passive smokers also need to remain away from an environment that contains cigarette smoke. Children also need to be kept away from such an environment for the same reason.
Most bacteria strains that cause meningitis are food or water borne. Therefore taking the precaution of drinking clean potable water and eating well cooked food can help in killing the bacteria and thereby preventing meningitis infections. By covering your mouth with your hand, while sneezing, you can help contain the spread of pneumococcal infection.
Ensuring general hygiene and taking normal precautions towards cleanliness can also ward off meningitis to a large extent. This means avoiding the sharing of towels, soap bars, eating utensils, and other personal hygiene items with others. It also means washing your hands with an antiseptic soap or with savlon before a meal. It also means taking such precautions while mixing an infant's milk formula.
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