What Part of the Body Does Meningitis Affect?

Meningitis is a medical condition in which inflammation occurs in the protective membranes that cover your central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). The inflammation is caused by infection of the fluid surrounding the central nervous system, though not always (sometimes injury, cancer, or certain medications can also cause this inflammation). Since your brain and spinal cord are vital for many body functions, meningitis can affect many other parts of the body!

The brain and spinal cord

Together, your brain and spinal cord form an integration complex system called the central nervous system. This system serves everything you do.

Any problem affecting this system could turn into serious (fatal), especially if the problem is out of control. Meningitis, especially bacterial meningitis, for example is dangerous or even life-threatening if not treated promptly!

Brain

Your brain is a spongy mass of soft tissues and billions of nerve cells.  This amazing three-pound organ may be the most complex and magnificent organ of your body. It has three main parts – the cerebrum (the largest part of the brain), cerebellum, and brain stem. All of these parts work together to serve lots of body functions, though each has some specific functions.

The cerebrum consists of two halves called the right and left cerebral hemispheres, which play a key role to use information from your senses so you can handle what’s going on around you and how to respond – as well as for reading, learning, thinking, and emotions.

Additionally, the right hemisphere is important to manage the muscles on the left side of your body. On the other hand, the left hemisphere is responsible to control the muscles on the right side!

Under the cerebrum, especially at the back of your brain, you have the cerebellum. It plays a key role to manage the balance and complex actions of your body such as talking and walking.

At the bottom of the brain, you have the brain stem that hooks up the brain with the spinal cord. It is responsible to manage your thirst and hunger – as well as for some of the most basic functions of your body such as breathing, body temperature, and blood pressure.

Spinal cord

The spinal cord is a fragile, long tubular bundle of nerve fibers. It is the most important tubelike structure between the brain and the body. It begins from at the end of the brain (brain stem) and runs down almost to the spinal column (the bottom of the spine).

Spinal nerves are important to support the brain, because they connect your brain with lots of nerves in most parts of your body. Other nerves are directly connected from the brain to the ears, eyes, and other areas of the head.

What parts of the body does meningitis affect?

Brain and spinal cord are protected by strong structures, the bones of the skull for the brain and the center of the spine’s bones for spinal cord. Both are also covered by three layers of protective membrane called meninges – and also cushioned by watery fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. Meningitis starts to develop when meninges get inflamed.

*Image credit to ADAM

The inflammation of meninges can be caused by a number of reasons. Most cases of the disease are associated with virus infections. And the good news, viral meningitis is usually mild (not serious) – though in a few cases it may also turn into serious.

Bacterial meningitis is not as common as viral meningitis, but it is more dangerous and even life-threatening. It can lead to a number of serious complications if not promptly treated. Fungal meningitis is also often associated with serious problems, but it’s rare.

In all types of meningitis, the primary problem is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation usually causes some of the following common symptoms:

1. Unusual skin rash. Typically, you can still see it clearly through the glass (it doesn’t fade even though if you firmly press a clear glass against the affected skin).
2. More sensitive to light.
3. Stiffness in the neck.
4. In severe case, meningitis may cause seizures.

Less common symptoms include a sudden fever, severe-persistent headache, drowsiness, irritability, fatigue, confusion, rapid breathing, joint /muscle aches, off balance, appetite loss, thirst, and general feeling of being sick. In babies, meningitis may also cause poor feeding, inactivity, high-pitched crying, and fontanel (a bulging soft spot, typically on their head).

These symptoms may widely vary from patient to patient. For example, it’s possible for some people with meningitis to not experience skin rash, one of classic symptoms of the disease. A distinctive skin rash is more common in bacterial meningitis.

Since your central nervous system is crucial to support many body functions, and the infection (especially for bacterial meningitis) can spread elsewhere in the body, and even the disease may also coexist with another health condition – meningitis may also affect other the following parts of the body:

… Continued …

Back and neck stiffness

Meningitis can lead to inflammation of meninges covering the spinal cord. Therefore, it’s often associated with muscular and skeletal problems such as back and neck stiffness. You may find that it’s not easy to turn your neck and back. Read more this issue in here!

Hearing loss

Hearing loss is common in people with meningitis (particularly for bacterial meningitis), which can range from mild to serious (more profound). Even some experts say that it’s the most common complication of the disease.

Early and prompt treatment is vital to prevent the risk of developing after-effects from the disease, including hearing loss. For more information about meningitis-related hearing loss, see this article!

Problems of circulatory system

Meningitis, particularly bacterial meningitis caused by bacteria called ‘Neisseria meningitidis’, can occur with septicemia. If the bacteria that infect the meninges spread and enter the circulation (bloodstream), they may produce and release toxins.

Septicemia is a serious blood poisoning, and therefore immediate treatment is necessary. It can occur with or without meningitis. It can range from less to more severe. But in general, again prompt treatment is important to prevent the problem from worsening.

It is associated with a number of problems affecting the circulatory system. As the problem worsens, blood flow to organs of the body (including vital organs such as heart, lungs, and kidneys) will be impaired. It can also lead to blood clots in any part of the body, causing varying degrees of tissue death or even organ failure.

Skin problem

The skin may appear flushed with the onset of fever, though meningitis is not always associated with fever.

When blood poisoning (septicemia) sets in, you’ll find evidence on your skin such as skin rash – this is particularly true if some of your blood vessels become damaged.

This blood poisoning often starts with bleeding under the skin, causing distinctive skin rash that usually doesn’t fade under pressure. At first, you might mistakenly identify the rash for mild problem such as a minor rash or tiny scratches. As the infection gets worse, the rashes will get darker and spread. Sometimes they may resemble large bruises or cause permanent scarring.

Other muscular and skeletal problems

Besides stiff back and neck, severe meningitis may also cause a condition called opisthotonos (when the spine, neck, and head become painfully arched and rigid). Individuals with poor bone structures (such as young children and babies) are more likely to have opisthotonos.

It is also possible for meningitis to cause a bulging-tight fontanel (especially in infants), joint stiffness, body aches, and muscle weakness. Even some of these problems persist a few months after the infection clears up.

What else?

The impaired central nervous system can also be potential to cause serious long-term after effects such as difficulty learning, difficulty concentrating (memory difficulty), and co-ordination problems. See more the comprehensive guide about long-term effects of meningitis in this section!