How is meningitis transmitted serous, purulent, fungal? What is there to be afraid of?

Meningitis refers to those diseases that,in contrast to viral hepatitis or HIV infection, it is extremely difficult to get directly from a person to a person. In the role of the source of infection can act and a person, and an animal, and an insect that is the carrier of one of the viruses, potentially capable of causing inflammation of the meninges. Meningitis with direct contact can develop only in one case: when it is caused by a bacterium, namely meningococcal. Let's see how meningitis is transmitted in each case

What causes the disease?

It can occur when you enter the brain:

1) the virus;

2) bacteria;

3) the fungus;

4) a unicellular pathogen;

5) mixed infection.

In order to hit the brain, thisThe microorganism must have a specific structure, strong aggressiveness or get to a person in such quantity that it will allow it to pass through all the protective barriers surrounding the brain. In addition, in order for the disease to develop, the human body must be either weakened, or its immune system is not sufficiently developed (that is why infants are more likely to suffer from adults). Meningitis is more likely to develop in someone who has a pathology of blood supply to the brain, suffered hypoxia during childbirth or a stroke at any age.

How do these pathogens penetrate the brain?

The virus can fall:

- airborne droplets;

- through the use of common toys;

- when using unboiled water, dairy or other products;

- When kissing - when a person is ill with ARVI (caused by a virus that can cause meningitis); he began to exacerbate herpes; he suffers from mononucleosis or chicken pox;

- through the bites of insects or mites.

It would seem that the question: "Serous meningitis - how is it transmitted?" Is exhausted. But there is one "but": in fact, it is very difficult to get sick with a viral inflammation of the membranes of the brain in contact with a patient who has this diagnosis. That is, if someone from your family had contact with a child, a man or a woman who was hospitalized with a diagnosis "Serous meningitis of a viral origin" in a few days, then you have a great chance that such a viral disease will develop, but NOT meningitis. The child, having communicated in the kindergarten with another child who developed measles meningitis, has a great chance to get measles and very small - the same measles meningitis.

Outbreaks of viral meningitis are often associated not withcontacts of people in the conditions of a close collective or family, and with the use of food products (it is often unboiled water or milk) in which an active virus lives.

How is the meningitis caused by the bacterium transmitted?

Purulent meningitis can be "picked up" ifit is not enough, wrong or not at all to treat such diseases caused by bacteria, as otitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, sepsis. This disease also occurs with penetrating injury of the cavity of the skull or spinal canal. These are secondary meningitis that developed as complications occurring in adults in almost 90% of all purulent meningitis cases.

The only meningitis that, indeed,transmitted by airborne droplets - is meningococcal. This disease can be transmitted precisely as a meningitis from a patient with meningitis (not as for a viral reason: one is sick with a viral diarrhea - the second from it receives meningitis). Such a disease is primary, they are sick more often by children, since they have a less mature immune system. When infecting a meningococcal infection of one of the children in a children's team, an infectious outbreak may occur; Frequent cases when all children in a family are infected with this disease are frequent.

How is the disease caused by meningococcus transmitted?

Meningitis is transmitted by airborne droplets. The source of the infection can be a child or an adult who:

- This bacterium is in the nasopharynx, while it does not bother and he does not consider himself ill, generously "giving away" the bacterium for short distances (that is, with close contact);

- meningococcal nasopharyngitis (symptoms: low body temperature, pain, perspiration or discomfort in the throat, mucopurulent discharge from the nose);

- generalized form of meningococcal infection: meningitis or meningococcemia; The rash, which has a dark color and does not disappear when pressed with glass, is not a mandatory symptom of this disease.

Bacteria is transmitted by airborne droplets to close distances, quickly dies in the air. Infected with her often children in a closed collective (kindergarten or school) or children in the family.

How is meningitis caused by the fungus transmitted?

This kind of meningitis is not contagious. It occurs mainly in those who have major problems with immunity (congenital, acquired, HIV infection) or blood diseases. Less often, it can "get" after chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

What if you are afraid of getting meningitis?

1. Make an inoculation from meningococcus and pneumococcus before the child goes to the kindergarten. In addition, viral meningitis is protected against routine vaccinations.
2. Observe the basic rules of hygiene, as well as conduct sufficient heat treatment of products.
3. Do not communicate with fever, coughing and sneezing people (no matter how native they may be) without a gauze or disposable mask; accustom to this child.
4. If you are concerned about discomfort in the throat or an "easy" cold, while the discharge is yellow, contact LOR and the infectious disease specialist about the exclusion of the meningococcal nature of the disease.
5. Strengthen immunity by hardening, a healthy lifestyle.
6. Scheduled in the off-season to drink multivitamins, try to eat more vegetables and fruits grown in our area.
7. Perform the appointment of doctors about this or that disease.

Now you know how meningitis is transmitted. Be attentive to your health.