A Review of the Role of Capsules in the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Meningitis

Meningitis is a disease that affects the meninges Meningitis is the name of the three membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These three membranes are called Dura Mater, Arachnoid Mater and Pia Mater. The function of these membranes is to protect the central nervous system. Meningitis is caused by viruses and bacteria. Viral meningitis is not usually harmless, it usually gets over in about a week. Viral meningitis may be caused by viruses such as enteroviruses and herpes viruses.

Meningitis: Meningitis, commonly known as spinal meningitis, is a spinal cord infection. Usually it is the result of virus infection or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis is more severe than viral meningitis and can cause brain damage, hearing loss and learning disability. There are an estimated 1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis every year, and 1 in 10 people is fatal. Symptoms include intense headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, convulsions, photophobia, stiff shoulders and so on. Dirofilaria (river blindness): filariasis is caused by larvae of Onchocerca volvulus, a parasite that has been living in humans for many years. It is popular in Africa, nearly 18 million people are all infected with this disease. Of infected people, more than 6.5 million people suffer from dermatitis and 270 000 people are blind. Symptoms include visual impairment, rashes, lesions, itching, skin fading, and lymphadenitis.

Bacterial meningitis is an acute infection of bacterial origin in the subarachnoid space of the central nervous system. Following bacterial infiltration, subsequent inflammation of the central nervous system causes loss of consciousness, induction of seizures, and / or elevation of intracranial pressure. On average, the annual incidence of bacterial meningitis in the United States is more than 5 per 100,000 patients.

Explain the difference between bacterial meningitis, aseptic meningitis, fungal meningitis and tuberculous meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is a major infection of buffy coat, arachnoid and subarachnoid space, ventricular system and brain CSF. The subarachnoid space enters through body, blood flow or direct extension infection. Common causes of bacterial meningitis since neonatal period are Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Fungal meningitis is relatively rare and causes chronic meningitis. It may mimic acute bacterial meningitis. Fungal meningitis does not spread from person to person. Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal form of disease that affects people with immunodeficiency like AIDS. If it is not treated with an antifungal medicine, it may be life-threatening. Students living in community living dormitories, military base staff, boarding schools, and child care facility children are at a higher risk of meningococcal meningitis. This is believed to be due to the bacteria diffusing through the respiratory route and diffusing rapidly through a large population.