What is meningococcal meningitis, a disease that comes back to haunt after a suspicious death in Pernambuco – News



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On January 6, a man in nearly 40 years died of a suspicion of meningococcal meningitis. The case has occurred in Recife. The patient, a resident of the rural area of ​​Gravatá, in the age of Pernambuco, was admitted to the Municipal Hospital Doutor Paulo da Veiga Pessoa with high fever, vomiting and stiff neck.

The public hospitals Correia Picanço unit, a reference in the treatment of infectious diseases in the region, however, has not resisted.

According to the prefecture of Gravatá, professionals, relatives and friends in close contact with the victim. received preventive treatment.

Another suspect case had been recorded in the state, this time in the city of Caruaru, which is currently under investigation by the Department of Health 's. State (SES) of Pernambuco. It was January 9, when a 42-year-old woman with the same symptoms was looking for a long-term care unit (UPA). Meningitis is an inflammatory process of the meninges, membranes that involve the brain and spinal cord

Meningitis is an inflammatory process of the meninges,. It is caused by various infectious agents (bacteria, viruses and fungi).

Bacterial meningitis

This is the most serious form of the disease. Several bacteria may be the cause, such as Neisseria meningitidis (or meningococcus). ), Streptococcus pneumoniae (or pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus sp. (especially those in group B), Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Treponema pallidum

It is important to note that the incidence of each depends on the age group. The Department of Health warns that newborns have Group B streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli; infants and children, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus group B; Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae in adolescents and young adults, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Group B streptococcus and Listeria monocytogenes.

. It is also normal for the patient to experience discomfort, nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light) and mental confusion.

The infectious epidemiologist Jean Gorinchteyn of the Emilio Ribas Institute in São Paulo is one of the most worrying bacterial meningitis. It is meningococcal meningococcus, which is the most common cause of meningococcal disease. Suspicion in Pernambuco and Pneumococcus

The first occurs when the bacterium falls into the bloodstream and promotes the release of inflammatory factors. "There is a lot of fear because of the rapid evolution, the high lethality, the possibility of leaving behind (blindness, deafness and amputation)"

some members) and the potential for epidemics and epidemics "In addition to the signs already described, it is normal to cause purplish spots, body aches, chills, diarrhea, fatigue and cold feet and hands.

In the case of pneumococcus, the agent involved is transported by the blood to the brain, where it generates a strong inflammatory reaction.The symptoms are basically the same as those of another meningitis, but there is a risk of consequences significant neurological conditions, such as walking and talking difficulties

Transmission of bacterial meningitis occurs from person to person through the airways, from droplets and secretions coming out of the nose and gorg After coughing or sneezing, other bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, spread through contaminated food.

Viral Meningitis

The causative agents are nonpolio enterovirus (Coxsackie and Echovirus) and herpesvirus (dengue, zika, chykungunya, yellow fever and West Nile fever), influenza virus. measles and mumps and adenovirus.

The symptoms resemble those of bacterial meningitis. but more indulgent. Fever, headache, stiff neck or neck, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, irritability, drowsiness or difficulty getting out of sleep, lethargy (lack of energy) and photophobia.

This type comes in many forms. depending on the virus. With regard to enteroviruses, the contamination is fecal-oral: it occurs by close contact with a sick person, by contact with objects and surfaces containing the micro-organism, by water or raw food infected. Cryptococcus neoforman, Cryptococcus Gatti, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Aspergillus fumigatu are caused by arbovirus infection.

The signs are basically the same as the others: high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, mental confusion and sensitivity to light.

In this form of pathology, transmission is by inhalation of spores (small pieces of fungi) that enter the lungs and reach the meninges.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The diagnosis of meningitis is made with the aid of blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid). It is they who will determine the type of illness and, consequently, the conduct that will be adopted by the doctors.

In the bacterial case, the treatment is carried out with antibiotics, badociated or not with corticosteroids, from 7 to 14 days. Hospitalization is Usually Required

Depending on the agent, antivirals and steroids should be given to the virus for about a week. Finally, in fungal meningitis, the prescription is antifungal for 4 to 12 weeks, also chosen according to the microorganism identified in the body of the patient.

Finally, in fungal meningitis, the prescription is antifungal for 4 to 12 weeks, also chosen according to the microorganism identified in the body of the patient. Demetrius Montenegro, Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital (HUOC) of the University of Pernambuco (UPE), states that there are vaccines for some of the infectious agents at the University of Pernambuco (UPE). origin of meningitis.

are offered to children and adolescents throughout the year in the public health network. "Adults with a chronic illness, such as diabetes and heart disease, or treated for cancer, should also receive it," he says

. The immunization programs of the National Immunization Program (NIP) are: meningococcal serogroup C conjugate, 10-valent pneumococcus (conjugate), pentavalent and BCG.

In addition to this protection, the doctor recommends to avoid spending too much time indoors and filled with people; (19659002) Incidence of meningitis in Brazil

Data from the Ministry of Health show that the incidence of meningitis in Brazil in 2018, up to epidemiological week 52 ( 23-29 December), there were 1,072 cases of meningococcal disease in Brazil and 218 deaths.

For pneumococcal meningitis, there were 1,030 occurrences and 321 deaths in 2017, and 934 and 282 in 2018. For the remaining bacteria, 2,687 cases and 339 deaths were reported. 2017 and 2,568 and 316 in 2018.

In the case of the virus, the government recorded 7,924 cases and 107 deaths in 2017. Last year, there were 7,873 and 93. Meningitis due to other etiologies recorded 796 occurrences and 169 deaths 2017, and 624 and 122 in 2018.

Note that, according to Member States, in Brazil, "Meningitis is considered an endemic disease, so that cases are expected throughout the year.

And the body completes noting that the incidence of bacteria is more common in autumn-winter and virus in the spring-summer.

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