Medical Term of the Day: Meningitis

By E.doc

So, I don't want to freak anyone out, but meningitis is definitely scary. Okay, maybe I do want to freak you out a little bit...

Literally, meningitis is a swelling of the meninges ("meninges" + "itis"). The meninges are three layers of tissue that make up the protective covering of your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). They also function as the matrix that supports blood flow and the cerebrospinal fluid. The swelling can be due to a few different factors, most commonly viral or bacterial infections. It is more common in children and infants, but is also seen in adults.

The main problem with meningitis is that there is not much space in between your brain and the inside of your skull - if swelling occurs, there really is no place for the swelling to go. With no place to go, the meninges push on the brain, causing symptoms like headache, delirium, and if it gets bad enough, brain damage.

If not caught early, the lasting effects of meningitis include deafness, blindness, loss of limbs, paralysis, mental retardation, and death. I'll leave it up to you to look for the gruesome pics.

Don't mess around with this one. If you have any of these symptoms combined, do not wait it out - see your doctor. Actually, you should probably go to the emergency room. Right now.

Thanks Boston College for the symptoms pic!