1. Meningitis
By: Audrey

2. General Info
What is the disease called?
Meningitis has several names
including meningococcal disease,
Streptococcus Pneumoniae,
Neisseria Meningitidis, Hib, Listeria
Monocytogenes

3. General Info
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of the
membranes surrounding your brain
and spinal cord as well as the fluids
surrounding your brain.

4. The Host
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of meningitis in adults
and children over the age of 2
include the following: headache,
swelling in the head and neck, stiff
neck, fever, vomiting, confusion,
seizures, tiredness, rash, sensitivity
to light, and lack of hunger and thirst

5. General Info
What are its consequences?
Meningitis may get better on it’s
own over the course of a few weeks,
viral meningitis, or it could become a
life threatening disease with the
potential to kill you over the course
of 24 hours, bacterial meningitis.

6. Bacterial
Meningitis
Causes
Bacterial Meningitis is caused when
bacteria enter the bloodstream and
travel to the brain and spinal cord.
Or, when bacteria directly enters the
meninges- via sinus infection, ear
infection, skull fracture, or rarely, in
surgeries.

7. Strains of Bacteria

8. Strains of
Meningitis
Bacteria
Streptococcus Pneumoniae
Most common form of Meningitis
Also causes Pneumonia, Ear
Infections, and Sinus Infections

9. Strains of
Meningitis
Bacteria
Neisseria Meningitidis
May cause local epidemic
Occurs when bacteria from the
upper respiratory system enters
the bloodstream

10. Strains of
Meningitis
Bacteria
Hib
Hib used to be the leading form of
Meningitis
There is currently a routine
vaccine preventing Hib

11. Strains of
Meningitis
Bacteria
Listeria Monocytogenes
Often found in soft cheeses, hot
dogs, and luncheon meats
Weakened immune systems are
more vulnerable

12. Causes of Meningitis

13. Viral
Meningitis
Causes
More causes than bacterial
Meningitis. Herpes, Mumps, HIV,
and West Nile Virus can cause it.
Viral Meningitis clears quickly
without treatment. It normally
circulates in late summer and early
fall.

14. Chronic
Meningitis
Causes
Chronic Meningitis occurs when
slow growing organisms enter the
membranes and brain fluid. Chronic
Meningitis develops slowly but has
the same symptoms.

15. Fungal
Meningitis
Causes
Fungal Meningitis is highly
uncommon and can cause Chronic
Meningitis. Fungal Meningitis isn’t
contagious but is life threatening. In
2012 contaminated injections
caused a multi state outbreak.

16. Other Causes
These are unusual
Chemical reactions, drug allergies,
cancer, and sarcoidosis can cause
Meningitis as well.

17. Other Important Information
RISK FACTORS: skipping vaccines, living in a community setting, age- under 20, pregnancy, compromised
immune system
COMPLICATIONS: the longer you wait for treatment the more severe damage
TREATMENT: Bacterial- intravenous antibiotics, cortisone medications
Viral- bed rest, fluids, pain medication, antiviral medication
Other- antiviral medication, antibiotics, antifungal medication, cortisone medication
MENINGITIS VACCINE: MCV4- meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MPSV4- meningococcal polysaccharide
vaccine

18. History
When was Meningitis
discovered?
Meningitis was first described in
ancient texts. Hippocrates was the
first to mention it.

19. Outbreaks
When is/was it most severe?
The first Meningitis outbreaks
recorded took place in 1805 in
Geneva. Many described outbreaks
in Massachusetts. In 1840 there was
a major outbreak in Africa. First in
Nigeria then it spread to Ghana.
1905-1908

20. Where
Where is/was it most severe?
Meningitis is most abundant in
Africa between Senegal and
Ethiopia. Meningitis thrives in dry
hot climates with low health
standards.

21. Cells
How does Meningitis reproduce?
What type of cell is it?
Meningitis cells are viruses, bacteria,
and funguses. The cells reproduce
using binary fission.
1. chromosome binds to plasma
membrane
2. chromosome replicates
3. cell grows, protein ring
developes
4. protein ring constricts,
membrane and cell wall close
5. fission is complete

22. What spreads
Meningitis?
What vectors are responsible for
spreading it?
Kissing, sharing utensils, and living in
close quarters can spread
Meningitis.

23. What does it
look like?
This picture is zoomed in
The Meningitis virus

24. The Immune System’s Role
Meningitis-B has a protein on the outside of the cell which tells the immune system
it is a human cell. Therefore, the immune system never attacks the virus. Some types
of Meningitis are swallowed by the macrophages. However, they are not broken
down. Instead they make the macrophage commit suicide, called apoptosis. Many
people already have the bacteria living inside their naval cavity harmlessly. The
problem is when the virus enters the bloodstream.

25. Bibliography
"CK-12 Foundation." Diseases of the Nervous System ( Read ). Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"History of Meningitis." News-Medical.net. 10 Nov. 2009. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"Info to Share!" Trumenba®. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"Meningitis Bacteria 'masquerade as Human Cells to Evade Body's Defences'" The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 18 Feb. 2009.
Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"Meningitis." Prevention. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"Meningitis vs the Immune System: Kill or Be Killed." Microbelog. 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"Meningococcal Meningitis." World Health Organization. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.
"Neisseria Meningitidis." Neisseria Meningitidis. Web. 21 Dec. 2015.