A night out with friends took a near-fatal turn for an 18-year-old girl identified as, Sian, after she shared a vape with her friends, contracting a severe brain-swelling infection.
Sian had only been drinking that evening as she said, she had shared a vape with three friends that night which they often do. She said they all did it amongst her friends. But within a day, she grew worse, vomiting and erupting in a rash across most of her body.
The rash was smooth to the touch and did not fade under pressure, causing Sian’s mother, Kerrie Durrant, immense worry. By the time Sian reached the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, her condition worsened drastically, and she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
Sian was left to wait anxiously as she was placed in a medically induced coma for four days. The doctors later explained that the infection could have been caught while sharing a drink, vaping, or kissing someone when out.
Thankfully, Sian recovered very well and was discharged after two weeks. This experience would remind us how dangerous a bacterial meningitis infection could be because it causes a potentially fatal infection that really needs urgent medical attention.
Understanding bacterial meningitis: a life-threatening condition:
Of the many dangerous infection types, bacterial meningitis ranks the most serious, mainly due to bacteria entering the blood stream and having already invaded membranes that surround the brain or the spinal cord.
The major facts of bacterial meningitis include the following.
Causes:
- This meningitis type primarily arises due to one of many varieties of bacteria. Some are mainly Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and then sometimes Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
- The bacteria can be spread by the respiratory droplets, or by throat secretions from an infected individual, by close contact with the infected patient.
Symptoms:
- Onset of fever and headache. Sudden onset
- Confused, disoriented, with altered mental status
- Vomiting and nausea
- Photosensitivity
- Seizure (in severe cases)
Complications:
- Brain damage. Permanent disabilities
- Hearing impairment
- Impaired vision
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Mortality in extreme cases.
Treatment:
- Prompt medical attention is necessary, as bacterial meningitis can be fatal if left untreated.
- The infection is usually treated with intravenous antibiotics.
- Supportive care, such as fluids and oxygen therapy, may also be given.
Prevention:
- Vaccination against some types of bacteria, such as meningococcal and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, may prevent bacterial meningitis.
- Good hygiene, including regular hand washing and even avoiding close contact with individuals who are ill, can also minimize exposure to infection.