Meningitis B: Its symptoms, causes and treatments

Meningitis B is a bacterial infection of meninges, caused by the neisseria meningitidis. This bacteria usually lives harmlessly in our throats but when it goes into the spinal fluid or the blood it becomes a bigger issue. It is also the most common bacterial meningitis in young adults. As well as meningitis B there are 11 other subtypes of neisseria meningitidis, with A, B, C, W, X, and Y causing the most infections. Meningitis B spreads quickly and can be fatal within just 24 to 48 hours of having symptoms.

Children under the age of 1 are the most likely to contract meningitis B, as their immune system is not that strong. After the age of 4 though it becomes rare for one to get the disease, but when you hit your adolescence you then again become more likely to contract it. One in 10 people that contract meningitis B will die and about a quarter will have significant after effects. Though we must note that with an early diagnosis and treatment most people are likely to fully recover (Sadarangani, 2016).

Meningitis can also be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections. Bacterial and viral meningitis are much more common than the other 2, and viral meningitis is milder than meningitis B and can be resolved on its own. Since meningitis B is the most common of the meninges it is necessary that we know enough information about it so we may prevent it or treat it in the case that it is contracted. In this article I will be talking all about that.

Symptoms

Symptoms for meningitis B usually start appearing 3 to 7 weeks after having contracted the bacteria. Some of them are,

Fever

Headache

Stiff neck

Nausea

Vomiting

Photophobia (light sensitivity)

Seizures

Confusion

Abnormal symptoms found on a neurological exam are not always common but they can definitely occur, these include,

Motor problems(having difficult time moving legs and arms)

Aphasia(difficult time speaking)

Cranial nerve problem(facial muscle paralysis)

Babies would normally have different symptoms from other people, these symptoms are,

Less active

Irritable

Decreased appetite

Vomiting

Abnormal reflexes

Bulging anterior fontanelle(soft spot of the skull)

Older people also have the same symptoms as someone younger, like Headaches, fever, and malaise, but they have those less frequently. Instead they have the Abnormal symptoms found on a neurological exam.

Motor problems

Aphasia

Cranial nerve problem

Some other rare but very concerning symptoms that would suggest one having meningitis B and the bacteria’s spread to the bloodstream called septicemia (sepsis) include.

Fatigue

Muscle aches and pains

Diarrhea

Shivering

Convulsions

Collapse

Rapid breathing

Cold hands and feet

Dark purple rash(petechial rash) that appears all over the body. Whilst the bacteria is traveling through the bloodstream, they are releasing toxins that damage the organs and blood vessels causing those rashes to appear on the skin.

Risk factors

Age: Children under the age of 1 are the most likely, followed by adolescents between the ages 16 to 23

Location: Places where lots of people live in close quarters, as well as people that live in the same household as someone with meningitis B

Travel: One may contract the disease if they frequent countries or cities with a high percentage of people with meningitis B

Autoimmune and other medical conditions: Conditions, such as HIV, make one more at risk to contracting the disease

Ways in which it could be contracted

Sharing things that have into contact with saliva

Being in close quarters with too many people

Kissing

Sharing cigarettes

Sharing things that touch the mouth or nose, such as lipstick

Being sneezed or coughed on

Causes

About 1 in 10 people can carry the bacteria in the back of their nose or mouths without ever falling ill. Meningitis B occurs when the bacteria gets through the lining at the back of the throat and goes through the bloodstream, the bacteria then effects the meninges and leads to bacteraemia.(Dryer, 2021)

Complications

Though some make a full recovery of meningitis B, there are others that develop permanent disabilities, some of these include,

Hearing loss

Learning disability

Behavioral problems

Chronic neurological problems:

Seizures

2. Difficulties with vision

3. Weakness in arms or legs

4. Difficulties speaking

5. Memory loss

6. Language deficits

7. People that develop septicemia(sepsis) may get scarring on the limbs and have to get an amputation.

Treatment

When taken to the hospital to be treated for meningitis B you will immediately be given an injection of broad-spectrum antibiotics and they may administer fluids intravenously to your body. If you are finding it difficult to breathe, you may be given oxygen, and the people that you’ve come into contact with will be given oral antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

Prevention and vaccine

Some small day to day things can go a long way in helping anyone avoid contracting the bacteria, these things include,

Frequent handwashing

Covering your mouth when sneezing and coughing

Avoid close contact with those that are sick or have the disease

Avoid smoking

Avoid sharing things with people that come in contact with the mouth

But the best way to help prevent contracting meningitis B is by getting vaccinated

Until 2015, we hadn’t had a vaccine for meningitis B. Then the UK produced the 1st meningitis B vaccine called bexsero produced by GlaxoSmithKline. This vaccine was administered through 3 injections that is given to babies at the 2, 4, and 12 month mark, this was expected to protect the children under the age of 4. However, there are many other bacterias and viruses that cause meningitis and this vaccine could not protect against all types of meningitis.

Another vaccine for meningitis B is called trumenba which is produced by Pfizer. It is usually given in 2 or 3 doses. For the 2 doses, the 2nd dose is administered 6 months after the 1st dose. For the 3 doses, the 2nd dose is given 1 or 2 months after the 1st and the 3rd is given 6 months after the 1st.

People ages 16 to 23 are recommended to get the MenB vaccine. Different vaccines are given in different doses to children and teens or adolescents. If you have certain conditions such as sickle cell disease or if you live in places where there is an outbreak of meningitis B it is even more necessary in those cases to get the vaccine, in those cases it may even be recommended to take booster shots every 2 to 3 years.

Some studies done to determine the effectiveness of the bexsero vaccine show that the meningitis B rates decreased by 50 to 100 percent in populations that are eligible for and have gotten the vaccine. It also shows that the vaccine is 79 to 100 percent effective for people that have taken 2 or more doses. Studies have also been done for the trumenba vaccine, the results so far have been mostly inconclusive, but researchers believe it can provide a high level of protection.(Yetman, 2021)

In the same study mentioned above, it was found that the vaccine showed quite a high level of safety. Of the 3 million doses administered in the UK there have been no safety concerns raised based on the current data we have for the vaccines.

Some more data from Quebec has revealed 4 cases of a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome in children age 2 to 5 that come within 13 months of them having received their vaccine. Researchers are still trying to figure out if there is an actual link of this disorder to the vaccines, but since in other countries there haven’t been any finding such as this, it suggests to the researchers that those cases in Quebec may have occurred only coincidently close to the time the vaccines were administered.

Some side effects of meningococcal vaccine include,

Swelling at the injection site

Fatigue

Headache

Muscle or joint pain

Fever

Chills

Nausea

Diarrhea

Note that these are not things to be too worried about as they usually fade after a few days of getting the vaccine.

Conclusion

Meningitis B is a bacterial infection that, if not treated quickly, may prove to be potentially fatal. Even people that are treated for the disease may still die from it, it all comes down to getting treatment as soon as possible when you recognize the symptoms on yourself or a loved one. Though it isn’t all bad news, as most people that get meningitis B survive without any long lasting effects. Of Course if one takes day to day precautionary measures, as the ones mentioned above and gets the MenB vaccination they are least likely to contract the disease at all. It is very important to know as much information as one can about the bacterial infection so as to prevent or seek treatment when it is necessary, but as long as one is careful enough they needn’t worry too much. I hope that this article was helpful and insightful for anyone that may be looking for the causes, treatments and prevention of meningitis B.