TB meningitis, or tuberculous meningitis, is an infection caused by a bacterium that can be passed from one person to the next. Because most people are unfamiliar with this illness, they might mistake the symptoms and believe they have a touch of the flu.
Identification
Tuberculous meningitis, or TBM, is a form of meningitis where the membranes around both the spinal cord and the brain become inflamed. Typically, it develops in an individual who has been infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis (a fairly contagious bacterium). The infection usually begins in the lungs and spreads to the base of the brain and the spinal cord. This is usually the time when any symptoms will begin to present themselves.
Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of TBM are a slight headache often accompanied by a fever, but these two indicators are not inclusive to one another. You may have just a fever or just a headache when infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. However, the actual warning signs vary with the age and health of the sufferer. If you are younger, generally under or around the age of 30, you may also experience a stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, sleepiness and seizures.
Warning
When tuberculous meningitis is left untreated, no matter the age, you may become confused or mentally altered and could slip into a coma. Sometimes, prolonged exposure to the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria can cause brain damage or even death. It is very important for you to contact your primary care physician if any signs or symptoms present themselves, especially after being exposed to an infected individual.
Origins
Generally, a person who becomes infected with the bacteria will have come in contact with someone with the bacterium. Most people believe that it can only be passed through a cough or a sneeze, but this is a great misconception. Many people have been given, so to speak, the bacteria by simply being close to someone with tuberculous meningitis.
Treatment
The most common treatment for tuberculous meningitis is a course of antibiotics and other medications. Usually, this treatment is started well before an actual diagnosis, since this form of meningitis can be difficult to detect. Most doctors will admit you to the hospital so you can be monitored during treatment.
Tags: mycobacterium tuberculosis, infected with, infected with mycobacterium, mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, tuberculosis bacteria