New Delhi: Meningitis means infection of the coverings of the brain, which manifests as fever, headache, vomiting, seizures (when brain tissue also gets infected), and many other serious neurological signs and symptoms. The common bacteria causing meningitis include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis, among others. It’s noteworthy that the bacterium causing tuberculosis can also cause meningitis. Viruses, fungi, and parasites can lead to brain infections, too.
Meningitis can be a life-threatening condition and demands urgent medical attention as it has serious complications if not treated timely. Dr. Parul Dubey, Consultant Neurology, Manipal Hospital, Goa, then went on to explain the link.
Most bacteria that cause meningitis are carried in the human nose and throat. They spread from person to person by respiratory droplets or throat secretions through droplet transmission. Group B streptococcus, which can be carried in the human intestine or vagina, can spread from mother to child around the time of birth.
Coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing utensils, and smoking or vaping can all contribute to the spread of infectious organisms that may eventually reach the brain. These activities, along with prolonged contact or sexual interaction with an infected person, increase the risk of transmission and brain infections.
It’s important to recall the hygiene habits we learned as children at home and school, such as covering our mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, wearing a mask when sick with a respiratory infection, turning our head away during a coughing or sneezing episode, and washing hands properly to maintain hygiene and prevent the spread of infections. Kissing an infected person and sharing glasses, and smoking can similarly directly transmit the causative organism. Therefore, such things are best avoided, and one must be vigilant before engaging in these practices and behaviours.
These simple steps can help stave off a myriad of infections that could affect not just the brain but also other body organs. Knowing basic hygiene and the possible medical ramifications of seemingly innocuous behaviors, particularly in adolescents and young adults, can safeguard them against disease — and, in certain instances, early death.