There have been commercials on television recently showing what life is like for a child before they contract meningitis. Many people don’t even consider this to be a possibility and don’t realize the dangers of meningitis, and how quickly it can not only affect a person, but kill.

What is meningitis and what are the risks associated with it?

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the brain and in the spine, and can be a very serious condition. At times it is deadly. Many people are still unaware of this condition and how dangerous it can be. The condition can develop rapidly, often within just a few hours of being around someone with meningitis, or it can take up to two days.

As the TV commercials show, even a simple thing like sharing food or kissing can spread the disease. Young people in particular are at risk due to their close proximity in schools (the same as the flu) and lack of awareness of the disease, or appropriate precautions against the disease.

There are two forms of meningitis: bacterial and viral. Neither is a good condition to have, but bacterial meningitis can result in brain damage and even death.

Many symptoms of meningitis are similar to other illnesses – nausea, headache, high fever, and vomiting – so a parent might mistake them for something else.

However, add the symptoms of being very sensitive to light and having a stiff neck, and an immediate trip to the doctor or even the hospital emergency room should planned to get diagnosis and treatment.

While bacterial meningitis can be treated successfully with antibiotics, it can’t be treated without an early diagnosis.

Diagnosis is made by inserting a needle into the spine and removing a small amount of fluid from around the spine. This spinal tap will provide the necessary evidence to make an accurate diagnosis.