Guitarist Jeff Beck, considered one of the greatest in the world, has died at the age of 78 from bacterial meningitis.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing. He died yesterday after contracting bacterial meningitis. His family requests privacy while they process this great loss,” a statement read on social media.
What is meningitis?
- The meninges are connective tissue membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord for protection. They are, from the outside in: dura mater; arachnoid; pia mater.
- If for any reason a bacterium or virus manages to overcome the body’s defenses and reach the meninges, they become inflamed and cause meningitis.
Bacterial and viral meningitis
- Bacterial and viral meningitis are the most important to public health because of their ability to cause outbreaks.
- Meningococcal meningitis (caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis) is the most serious, but other organisms can also be involved.
- Bacterial infections are more common in the fall and winter, and viral infections in the spring and summer.
What are the main bacteria that cause meningitis?
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci), and Haemophilus influenzae are the main causes of bacterial meningitis. Group B streptococci, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Treponema pallidum can also cause the disease, but less commonly. Koch bacillus, a slightly different type of microorganism that causes tuberculosis, can also cause meningitis in certain cases.
And the viruses?
The main culprits are enteroviruses (such as coxsackie and echoviruses). Other possible pathogens involved: viruses of the herpes group (such as herpes simplex, varicellazoster virus, EpsteinBarr virus and cytomegalovirus), measles virus, mumps virus and arboviruses (such as dengue, zika, chykungunya or yellow fever viruses) among others.
There are also other causes:
Meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gatti, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Histoplasma capsulatum, among others. They are rare but can affect people with compromised immunity.
Protozoa such as Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Plasmodium sp, and helminths (worms) such as the larva of Taenia solium, Cysticercus cellulosae (which causes cysticercosis), and Angyostrongylus cantonensis can also cause meningitis, but at a lower rate than viruses and bacteria.
- noninfectious processes
There is also meningitis caused by noninfectious processes. In these cases, the inflammation is not caused by viruses or bacteria, but rather by autoimmune diseases, cancer, or chronic use of some medications.
What is the difference between bacterial and viral meningitis?
- viral meningitis: the picture is milder, includes flu and coldlike symptoms, and the course is usually benign, that is, without complications.
- Bacterial Meningitis: usually have more severe symptoms and require prompt treatment with antibiotics
How is bacterial meningitis transmitted?
- Generally, transmission of bacterial meningitis from person to person occurs through droplets and secretions from the nose and throat.
- According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States), about one in ten people carry meningococci in their nose or throat without showing any symptoms.
How is bacterial meningitis treated?
- Bacterial meningitis uses antibiotics in a vein.
- Hospital admission is required.
- The sooner treatment begins, the less chance there is that the condition will develop poorly.
What are the symptoms?
- fever (sudden onset)
- headache
- neck stiffness
- malaise
- nausea
- to throw up
- sensitivity to light
- mental confusion
- Red patches on the skin (in some cases)
If you suspect the disease, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
- In newborns and infants: Some of the symptoms described above may be absent or difficult to notice. The baby may become irritable, vomit, eat poorly, and become unresponsive to stimuli. It may also represent the sunken molera.
*With information from a report published on 10/06/22.