Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis and CopingPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis and Coping
Prevention
Although meningitis cases are rare, pneumococcal meningitis accounts for half of all cases in the United States, about 2,000 cases annually. Pneumococcal meningitis is extremely serious: it kills 8% of children and 22% of adults who contract it.If you suspect that you might have pneumococcal meningitis, it’s important to seek treatment immediately. Here’s everything you should know about pneumococcal meningitis.
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Pneumococcal Meningitis Symptoms
The primarysymptoms of meningitisinclude:
You might also experience:
Bacterial meningitis, including pneumococcal meningitis, also causes focal symptoms: those that affect a certain area of the body. These can include:
Children and babies who have meningitis might experience sleepiness, trouble eating, irritability, and bulging in the soft spot on the head.
Pneumococcal meningitis occurs when bacteria enter the meninges—usually after passing through the bloodstream—and cause an infection. Once the meninges have become infected, blood vessels in the brain become damaged, which can allow the bacteria to enter thecerebrospinal fluid, causing further damage.
People can carry theS. pneumoniaebacteria without contracting an infection like meningitis or other pneumococcal disease, like pneumonia. In fact, most kids will be carriers ofS. pneumoniaeat some point without getting sick.
Scientists aren’t sure why some people get sick fromS. pneumoniaewhile others are carriers who do not experience any symptoms of pneumococcal disease.
However, there are certain factors associated with a higher risk for pneumococcal meningitis.
If you are experiencing symptoms of meningitis, your healthcare provider will speak to you about:
They’ll examine your eyes and ears to look for signs of infection, which may have progressed to meningitis.
Ultimately, if your provider believes that you have meningitis, they’ll want to conduct aspinal tap—also known as a lumbar puncture—to confirm and to identify which type of meningitis you have. During this procedure, a small amount of spinal fluid is removed from your lower spine. It can then be tested in the lab for bacteria, includingS. pneumoniae. This canconfirm the diagnosisof meningitis.
It’s critical to starttreatment for pneumococcal meningitisimmediately. The sooner treatment starts, the less likely you are to experience ongoing symptoms or to develop a fatal case of meningitis.
Pneumococcal meningitis must be treated in the hospital—you should never try to manage the symptoms at home.
Pneumococcal meningitis is treated using antibiotics, which are usually given via an IV:
The first medication used isceftriaxone.Ceftriaxone is effective even against bacteria that are resistant to other forms of antibiotics. If you don’t quickly show signs of improvement, your healthcare provider will likely move on to other antibiotics.
Vancomycin or rifampin may be used in addition to ceftriaxone if the first medication is not successful in treating symptoms. These antibiotics are also used totreat tuberculosis (TB).
In some cases, healthcare providers will also prescribe corticosteroids. These canhelp control pain, and help your body fight off the infection. It’s particularly common to use corticosteroids for children who have pneumococcal meningitis.
Pneumococcal meningitis is a very serious condition. It kills 22% of adults and 8% of children who contract it.
For others, pneumococcal meningitis can cause lifelong health impacts. One in five people who recover from meningitis have lifelong effects.However, if you get treatment quickly, you’re less likely to die or have long-lasting side effects.
If you recover from a serious case of pneumococcal meningitis, you might experience:
If you have experienced pneumococcal meningitis, you should speak with your healthcare provider about therapies that can help your recovery long term. These might include working with a physical therapist, speech and language pathologist, or neuropsychologist to help recover some or all of your previous functions.
There arethree recommended vaccinesthat can reduce your risk of contracting pneumococcal meningitis:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination schedule recommends a four-dose series of either PCV15 or PCV20, starting at 2 months old. For adults, the recommended vaccine may depend on your age group, vaccine history, or if you have a certain medical condition. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine whether the vaccine is right for you or your child.
In addition to getting your vaccination, you can prevent the spread ofS. pneumoniaethrough good hygiene practices, including properly washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
Summary
Pneumococcal meningitis occurs whenS. pneumoniaebacteria infect the lining of the spinal cord or brain. This type of bacterial meningitis is among the most common, but also the most serious.
It’s often deadly, and 20% of people who survive experience lifelong impacts including brain damage and changes to their sight and hearing. However, the sooner you start treatment, the less likely you are to have a serious case.
A Word From Verywell
If you or a loved one is recovering from pneumococcal meningitis, be sure to advocate for yourself. Appropriate therapies—like physical therapy and counseling—can help you recover some or all of your functions.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Pneumococcal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal disease: clinical features.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccination for preteens and teens: information for parents.World Health Organization.Impact and effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines: a review.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Pneumococcal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal disease: clinical features.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccination for preteens and teens: information for parents.World Health Organization.Impact and effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines: a review.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Pneumococcal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal disease: clinical features.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccination for preteens and teens: information for parents.World Health Organization.Impact and effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines: a review.
MedlinePlus.Pneumococcal meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal disease: clinical features.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccination for preteens and teens: information for parents.
World Health Organization.Impact and effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines: a review.
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