What is menginitis?

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges. These are the three membranes that envelope the brain and spinal, called the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater.

How is Meningitis caused?

Meningitis is generally caused by infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and certain organisms.

Types of Meningitis

Bacterial Meningitis Viral Meningitis

Agents of Meningitis

Bacterial: Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.

Viral: Enteroviruses

Transmission

Bacterial: People become infected when they are in close contact with the discharges from the nose or throat of a person who is infected.

Viral: Spread from person to person through fecal contamination (which can occur when changing a diaper or using the toilet and not properly washing hands afterwards).

Signs and Symptoms

Meningitis infection is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. It is may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

- Nausea- Vomiting- Photophobia (sensitivity to

light)- Altered mental status

Diagnosis and Treatment

Samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid are collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. There is no specific treatment for viral

meningitis. Antibiotics do not help viral infections, so they are not useful in the treatment of viral meningitis. Most patients completely recover on their own within 7 to 10 days. A hospital stay may be necessary in more severe cases or for people with weak immune systems.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is characterized primarily by inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs or by alveoli that are filled with fluid.

How is it caused?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that is caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

Types of Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia Viral pneumoniaFungal pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia

Agents of PneumoniaBacterial: Streptococcus pneumoniaeViral: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, adenovirus, influenza, enterovirus, and rhinovirus, herpes

simplex virusFungal: Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.Parasitic: Pneumocystis carinii

Transmission Bacterial: spread by droplets or direct contact with an infected personFungal: inhalation of spores

Signs and symptomsPneumonia signs and symptoms include:

Cold or flu, shaking, chills, a high fever, sweating, chest pain (pleurisy), a cough that produces thick, rust-colored, runny nose, headache, fever, muscle pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. Some people experience no

symptoms at all in the case of fungal pneumonia.

Treatment

Bacterial: penicillin or erythromycinViral: oseltamivir orzanamivir, ribavirin. aciclovirFungal: triazoles; and the echinocandinsParasitic: trimethoprim-sulfanethoxazole or pentamidine isothionate.