| Caught a virus and starting to experience severe | | | | * A reaction to medical treatments |
| headaches? If you start to have severe viral | | | | * Lupus |
| infection headaches, then you should check them | | | | * Some forms of cancer |
| out. It will be a good idea to ensure that your | | | | * A trauma to the head or back |
| symptoms do not point to a case of meningitis. | | | | Bacterial meningitis is the worst type because it |
| There are serious consequences from having | | | | can kill you. It often begins as an upper |
| meningitis. | | | | respiratory tract infection. From there it travels |
| So what is meningitis all about? This is an infection | | | | through your blood vessels to your brain. Then it |
| in the membrane that surrounds your brain. Brain | | | | can block up your blood vessels inside your brain |
| and spinal cord infections can be very dangerous | | | | triggering a stroke and brain damage. |
| because they cause inflammation, which places | | | | Viral meningitis is the most common form. Usually |
| pressure on your nerves. This will cause you to | | | | viruses that enter your body through your mouth |
| have a viral infection headache. | | | | before going to your brain and multiplying cause it. |
| Inflammation can also cause the following | | | | You can find these viruses in the mucus, saliva |
| symptoms: | | | | and feces. |
| * Fever | | | | Other viruses that may cause meningitis include: |
| * Severe headache | | | | * Chicken pox |
| * Feeling confused | | | | * Flu |
| Severe inflammation can cause these symptoms: | | | | * Mumps |
| * Brain damage | | | | * HIV |
| * Stroke | | | | * Genital herpes |
| * Seizures | | | | Anyone can catch meningitis. This is especially true |
| * Death | | | | if your immune system is weak. |
| A bacterial infection or virus causes meningitis. | | | | Meningitis often begins like the flu does. You may |
| The body can usually fight and beat an infection. | | | | get a rash. The major symptoms include: |
| However, when the infection travels into the | | | | * Running a sudden fever |
| blood stream, it can then go into your brain and | | | | * A severe headache |
| spinal cord fluid. It can then affect your nerves | | | | * Stiff neck |
| and move into the brain causing inflammation and | | | | * Dislike of light |
| swelling. This can damage or kill nerve cells and | | | | Bacterial meningitis must be treated quickly. |
| cause bleeding in the brain. It can also cause you | | | | Severe bacterial meningitis will require intravenous |
| to have a viral infection headache. | | | | antibiotics. On the other hand, antibiotics cannot be |
| Brain swelling is very dangerous because the brain | | | | used to treat viral meningitis because they do not |
| is a soft organ in a hard box (the skull). If the | | | | kill viruses. |
| brain swells, there is nowhere for it to go, except | | | | Whether you are having bacterial or viral |
| against the walls of the skull. This is what causes | | | | meningitis, what would be best for yourself is to |
| the most damage. | | | | get plenty of rest and give your body a break. In |
| There are several causes of meningitis. These | | | | the meantime, drink plenty of water to flush out |
| include | | | | the toxins and go easy on your diet. Do follow |
| * Bacterial infection | | | | the recommendations by your doctor during this |
| * Viral infection | | | | period. Your viral infection headache and other |
| * Fungal infection | | | | symptoms will start to subside as your body |
| * A reaction to medications | | | | recovers. |