Meningitis, a Deadly Disease That Lurks Babies and Children

Meningitis is not very popular in Indonesia, especially in relation to outbreaks of tropical diseases such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or bird flu. In fact, this disease is also known as inflammation of the lining of the brain is very deadly, especially in children and infants.

Meningitis is an infection of the brain, especially in the membranes (meninges) that cover the human brain and spinal cord. This condition can affect infants, children and adults with the most common features of meningitis are stiff neck, high fever, severe head, very sensitive to light, frequent headaches, and vomiting.

Meningitis patients must be treated immediately, but there is a possibility of life threatening within 24-48 hours after the onset of symptoms of meningitis. If not treated quickly, the chances of a life of an unregistered meningitis patient will be greater.
Any cause of meningitis in children?

Bacteria, viruses or fungi are the most common cause of meningitis in infants and children. This disease is a type of meningitis, viral meningitis is more common and usually does not threaten the lives of sufferers.

Although meningitis is caused by bacteria and fungi is a rare disease. However, this is precisely the type of meningitis that can cause fatal conditions, until death.
1. Viral meningitis

Some types of viruses that usually cause mild meningitis are:

Non-polio enterovirus: This virus enters the body when an infant or child is in contact with infected feces or saliva.
influenza viruses cause children to have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headaches, severe headaches, and others.
Measles and mumps: enter the body when infants and children come into contact with secretions from the lungs or mouth.

In addition, there are viruses that cause quite severe meningitis, for example:

Varicella: bring babies with chickenpox.
simplex virus: a virus that is usually obtained from a mother when the baby is still in the womb or while working.
West Nile virus: transmitted by mosquitoes.

2. Bacterial meningitis

In the first 28 days of life, babies will be very sensitive to bacteria that can cause meningitis, for example:

Group B Streptococcus: usually transmitted from mother to child at birth.
coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: spread by hygienic habits such as not washing your hands after using the bathroom.
Listeria monocytogenes: Babies Have mothers while still in the womb, while mothers get bacteria from contaminated food.

For children 1-5 years, the bacteria that cause meningitis usually attack are:

Streptococcus pneumoniae: bacteria commonly found in the sinuses, nose and lungs and spread through coughing or sneezing. Meningitis is usually attacked by children under 2 years.
Neisseria meningitidis: bacteria that come in contact with secretions from the lungs or mouth aching meningitis. Infants less than 1 year old are more susceptible to meningitis of this disease.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): can spread to children who are in very close contact with Hib bacterial carriers.

3. fungal meningitis
Fungal meningitis is a very rare disease because it only occurs in people whose immune systems are weakened. Infants who are born prematurely or have too low birth weight can also suffer from meningitis due to the Candida fungus.

In addition to viral, bacterial and fungal infections, infants and children can also be affected by non-infectious meningitis factors. These factors, such as lupus, head injuries, brain surgery, cancer, and several types of treatment.