Meningitis: 7 facts every Nigerian must know before its too late -

On Thursday, March 30, 2017, the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the outbreak of
Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in five states with 282
deaths.
NAIJ.com reported that Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the
Chief Executive Officer of the centre, made this known
to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in
Abuja.
Ihekweazu said that 1,966 suspected cases have been
recorded while 109 have been confirmed since the
outbreak of the disease in February in the country.

 
      What are some facts Nigerians need to know about the
sickness before it is too late so they can take
preventive measures?
The Health research funding website gave the
following facts:


1. There are different forms of Meningitis
Meningitis can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or even
fungi on certain occasions. Because of this, being able
to recognize the cause of the infection that is swelling
up the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord is critically
important.
The bacterial version of meningitis is the most deadly,
accounting for the deaths of over 120,000 people
around the world every year.

2. It kills fast
It is possible for someone to die from meningitis just
24 hours after the initial symptoms of the disease take
place. About 10% of the cases of meningitis prove fatal
even when treatment is received immediately.
Another 20% of people will receive some form of
permanent brain damage or disability as a direct
result of the disease, meaning that only 70% of people
with meningitis recover after encountering the
symptoms.

3. It has no age barrier
Meningitis is known to affect kids under the age of 5
and teens between the ages of 15-19 the most often,
but the nature of the disease means that it can affect
anyone at any time.
It does not matter where someone lives in the world
today. Meningitis may be more frequent in low
income areas and where vaccines are not as available,
but it is still found in every corner of every society.

4. Vaccines can help prevent it
One of the most effective ways to stop meningitis
before it ever starts is to be vaccinated against the
disease. That’s why it is recommended as a part of
every child’s vaccination program today.
By exposing people to the dead and dying bacteria that
cause the deadliest forms of the disease, children
receive a higher level of protection against all bacterial
forms of the disease.

      5. Smoking increases the risk of Meningitis
Meningitis is often spread through personal contact,
which is why smoking causes many people to become
carriers of the virus or bacteria.
Although seasonal factors can also contribute to the
ability of people to pick up the disease and spread it,
smoking is the #1 way that people increase their
chances of picking up meningitis.

6. It leads to major illnesses
Those that have survived symptoms of meningitis are
likely to suffer long term health effects such as
deafness, brain damage, learning difficulties, seizures,
and limited physical activity and abilities.

7. Other ways apart from vaccination
One of the top ways to prevent symptoms and risks of
contracting meningitis is to become vaccinated. Other
prevention tactics include hand washing frequently,
exercising regularly, maintain a stable immune
system, and cover your mouth when you sneeze or
cough.