Meningitis Death

What Is Meningitis

(neisseria meningitidis) The bacteria that causes meningococcus meningitis

Inside your skull resides the lining of the brain called meninges, which is designed to protect your brain, keeping it safe and cozy inside the confines of your noggin. But should this defensive lining become infected, you can be sure your brain is going to become your worst nightmare as it causes your life to rapidly dwindle into the hereafter. Meningitis of the brain is nothing to take lightly, it can and does kill in a very short period of time. Let's take a closer look at this condition and how it can effect our brain, as well as our lifespan.

The Meninges That Wrap Your Brain

The tissue that encapsulates your brain is called the meninges. It looks kind-of like thin leathery shipping paper, while serving the same duty as bubble wrap: it keeps your brain and spinal cord protected from the things that can bring harm from the world around you. The meninges have three distinct layers, the dura mater, the arachnoid layer, and the pia matter. Below you can see the role each layer of the meninges serve inside your skull.

The Three Layers Of The Meninges

1. Dura Matter - Keeps the brain securely in place, preventing it from sloshing around inside your head.
2. Arachnoid Layer - This layer has blood cells that filter and clean the fluid surrounding the brain, acting like your brain's housekeeper.
3. Pia Mater - This is a very vital layer, in that it fits tightly around your entire brain like shrink-wrap, feeding the brain—via blood vessels—its much needed supply of oxygen and glucose.

Sick Meninges Are Called Meningitis

When the layers of the meninges get attacked, causing inflammation and infection, it is called meningitis. An injury to the skull or a virus can cause meningitis. But the most deadly meningitis results from bacterial infection. Meningococcus meningitis—or meninccalgoco disease—is the very deadliest form of bacterial meningitis of them all. It is the most widely, and most readily spread form of the disease by person to person interaction.

How Is Meningitis Spread Person To Person

• coughing
• sneezing
• kissing
• handshaking
• saliva
• close contact between humans

Signs Of Meningococcus Meningitis

You will first feel the symptoms of meningitis as the body encounters a high fever and significant sensitivity to light, accompanied by a stiff neck and one whopper of a headache. Purple bruising, or a purple looking rash will be evident on your skin as capillaries begin to leak out blood. These symptoms quickly escalate as the bacterial infection marches toward deeper areas inside your brain. This is when your body begins to go haywire; projectile vomiting, confusion and serious disorientation take hold. This is all far too difficult to manage as you discover you are having to fight to simply stay awake as seizures may arrive in wave after wave.

Meningitis Breaches The Blood-brain Barrier

The brain's layer of protective material will soon give way as the unforgiving meningitis infection marches forward, chomping away at the blood-brain barrier. This barrier won't stand a chance at doing its job to keep toxins out of your gray matter at this point; the infection now has the upper-hand. The wounded blood cells are going to leak into your brain, clogging the blood vessels. A buildup of liquid in and around the brain (cerebral edema) begins drowning your now vulnerable brain. The brain damage will bring seizures, that will push your body into a state of shock. This occurs because your brain is no longer in control of your blood flow, which will completely switch-off the brain as far too much damage has taken place. Not long after, your life will come to an end.

Even as in America, contracting meningitis may be less likely than in other countries it still happens. So, be sure to keep its manner of spread—coughing, sneezing, saliva, kissing, sharing utensils, public drinking fountain, etc.—in the forefront of your mind, so it won't end up wreaking havoc inside it. In the USA, college and high school age students seem to be at the highest level of risk. For this reason alone, it is important to educate yourself, and your kids on how to stay as safe as possible from contracting meningitis of the brain. Here's wishing you good health.

Centers For Disease Control And Prevention - What you should know about the disease vaccines, symptoms and prevention.