The infectologist, Florencia Cahn, pointed out that meningitis caused by bacteria – a disease that caused the death of the legendary English guitarist Jeff Beck at the age of 78 – “it has a high mortality and in cases when death does not occur a high rate of sequelae” and explained that “the causative agent depends on the age of the patient”.
“In the case of meningitis caused by bacteria, the causative agent depends on the age of the patient. In older adults the most frequent are pneumococcus and meningococcus, which are bacteria”maintained the specialist in dialogue with Télam.
He specified that “cerebrospinal fluid samples should be taken for culture and antibiotic treatment should be started prematurely.”
Although it is done “Early antibiotic treatment, meningitis has a high mortality and in cases when death does not occur, it has a high rate of sequelae and complications.”
The representative of Beck told the local press that the musician died on Tuesday after “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis”.
Cahn said that “meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, the meninges. There are different causes of meningitis: some may be for bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites”.
“In this particular case (Beck’s death) what he learned through the media is that it was bacterial meningitis, but it is not known what the bacteria that caused it was, although it is known that at the ends of the life, that is in babies and older adults, these pictures are even more serious”held.
symptoms and transmission
The Ministry of Health recalled that “the symptoms of meningitis may be similar to those of other medical conditions; Therefore, before them, a doctor should always be consulted to obtain a diagnosis.
“in infants It is more frequent that it presents with irritability, fever, rejection of food, a greater tendency to sleep than usual and/or intense, continuous and inconsolable crying,” the health portfolio stressed.
In childrenhowever, you may present with headache, sleepiness, irritability, fever, decreased level of consciousness, sensitivity to light (photophobia), neck stiffness, and/or nausea and vomiting.
pneumococcal infections They can develop in the middle ear (otitis), sinuses (sinusitis), lungs (pneumonia), meninges (meningitis), and septicemia (bacteria in the blood).
While, meningococcus is spread from person to personby air, by coughing, sneezing or by close contact with someone infected and the infection develops rapidly and can have serious complications and even cause the death of the patient.
