Meningitis Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

This article explains a few things about meningitis, and if you're interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don't know.

Meningitis is a rare disease, our brains have what is called a blood brain barrier that protects are brain for contamination by the blood. However, some infections can trick the barrier, which then decreases its ability to work properly.

Meningitis can be caused from a direct spread of a severe infection such as an ear infection or sinus infection. In some cases, meningitis is noted after head trauma or an injury to the head or brain. There are several causes of meningitis. These include Bacterial infection,

Viral infection, Fungal infection, A reaction to medications, A reaction to medical treatments, Lupus, Some forms of cancer, A trauma to the head or back. Anyone can catch meningitis. This is especially true if your immune system is weak.

Meningitis often begins like the flu does. The major meningitis symptoms include a severe headache that will not go away, stiffness in the neck, stiffness in the upper back, pain in one or both eyes, or an aversion to light, nausea, or the feeling of an upset stomach, vomiting, achy body, fever, sleepy feeling, or the feeling that you just cannot wake up completely, confusion, or a feeling of just not being with it.

Viral meningitis is the most common form. Usually viruses that enter your body through your mouth before going to your brain and multiplying cause it. You can find these viruses in the mucus, saliva and feces. Other viruses that may cause meningitis include: Chickenpox , Flu, Mumps, HIV ,Genital herpes.

Bacterial meningitis is caused from different types of bacteria and viral meningitis can be from a complication of chickenpox. Today, most children are now vaccinated against
chickenpox therefore this can rule out this type of meningitis in most cases.

If your meningitis facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don't let important meningitis information slip by you.

Bacterial meningitis must be treated quickly. Severe bacterial meningitis will require intravenous antibiotics. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral meningitis because they do not kill viruses. The best prevention against meningitis is to, of course, be vaccinated if at all possible.

Treatment for Meningitis Tips

1. Acute bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics to ensure recovery and reduce the risk of complications.

2. Pneumovax (also known as Prevenar) against Streptococcus pneumoniae is recommended for all people 65 years of age or older.

3. Drugs such as dexamethasone are sometimes given to reduce inflammation or to reduce the chance, or spread, of septicemia.

4. Antifungals to combat the infection are usually administered, as well as fluids and
medicine to control pain and fever.

Those who only know one or two facts about meningitis can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning here. All information about Meningitis on this article is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

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Natural Health - Best Kept Secret For Common Colds and Flu

The expression "There is no cure for the common cold!" is a popular phrase because most colds and flus are viral infections; they are not bacterial infections. Antibiotics work only on bacterial infections. Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections. And antibiotics are really the only arsenal that conventional medicine has for infections. (Well there are a few anti-viral meds that are extremely toxic to the liver and thank goodness docs don't prescribe frequently).

So consequently, the expression "There is no cure for the common cold" has become a popular *meme.

(*Definition of meme = phrase used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person - like a virus - ha ha!)

If a cure were to indicate healing of the problem and an eradication of symptoms, then medicine has yet to discover the best kept secret (that many of you know!) which is right under their nose (literally).

Essential Oils.

Essential oils come from a variety of plants that have many amazing healing properties which include naturally fighting viruses.

My intention here is to write only about 'therapeutic grade essential oils, not perfume grade oils that you mostly find in stores and also promoted through the English Model of Aromatherapy).

When used, essential oils create an environment where pathogenic organisms like viruses, fungus and other bad bacteria and flu-bugs (yes, maybe even the swine flu) cannot survive.

If you already know about using essential oils for keeping your immune system up and protecting you against infection, then I am here to tell you that you are an extremely empowered and fortunate individual who has a gift of this special knowledge. And if you have access to an excellent resource of essential oils - then you are in a better position than millions of other people who have to rely an unfortunate false belief that there is "no cure for the common cold".

In my humble opinion the best essential oils that you can get on this earth are Young Living Essential Oils.

I personally have had the experience of having the flu that the YL oils have helped and I've also had experiences with other stubborn viruses (like Shingles) and have used Young Living Oils which stopped a painful flare-up (within 24 hours). Ravensara is what I used for my shingles - and I was so excited to hear a world authority in therapeutic aromatherapy Kurt Schnaubelt present on stage last week at the YLEO 2009 Convention that ravensara is indicated for shingles!

There is tremendous fear about the oncoming flu season - and so many questions about the Swine Flu - if it is as bad as they are saying - and even questions about the side effects of the vaccination (which personally I would never take).

If you are armed with an array of the Young Living Essential Oils, and take other natural preventative measures to keep your immune system strong - then you have ownership of the best kept secret to fight colds and the flu.

Here's to a healthy winter season free of colds and flu!

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Can Dogs Get the Flu?

Although everyone realizes that pets get sick from time to time, they are often unsure of whether or not those illnesses can be compared to the ones that humans are afflicted with. One ailment that dogs can contract in a form similar to that of humans is the flu. Canine influenza is a virus that has only emerged in the last five years and was first found in ill racing greyhounds.

The symptoms of canine influenza are actually quite similar to symptoms humans get when they are ill, but they are also close to the symptoms of a condition known as kennel cough. A dog with canine influenza will have a cough for ten to twelve days, which is longer than kennel cough. They will also have nasal discharge and a low grade fever. In a small percentage of dogs, the symptoms can resemble those of pneumonia and can require hospitalization.

Currently, experts are working on developing a vaccine for canine influenza. Concerned pet owners should remember that the vaccine for kennel cough will not protect a dog against canine influenza, even though the symptoms are very similar. The best way to protect a dog against the canine flu is to keep it away from other dogs that seem sick and washing their hands after petting another dog.

If someone thinks their dog may have canine influenza, they should look out for the primary symptoms, especially a thick, yellow discharge coming from the nose. If symptoms persist, they should take their pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is also a good idea to keep the dog away from other dogs since the flu could be contagious.

Some dog owners have wondered if they can catch the human flu from their dog who is suffering from canine influenza. This is an issue that public health agencies are currently investigating and, so far, it seems that humans cannot contract canine influenza. They have closely observed kennel workers who work closely with sick dogs and they have not reported any symptoms that indicate they may have caught the flu from a dog. Currently, there are no recorded cases of a human being catching the flu from a dog.

The symptoms of canine influenza should be easy to spot because they are very similar to those of the human flu. Although it is easy to mistake the dog flu for kennel cough, pet owners should remember that it is more likely to be the flu if symptoms persist for more than ten days. There have been some more serious cases of canine flu, so it is a good idea to take any animal that seems sick to a veterinarian right away for a checkup.

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How to Treat Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus) Naturally Through Diet and Supplements

It is fair to say that few countries around the world have escaped the panic that is swine flu, or the H1N1 virus. Following the fear that accompanied the lethal bird flu virus (H5N1 virus) recently, news of another sudden and severe flu virus has left many people scared and blindly following the advised reliance on anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza.

However, when fear leads to this inability to question advice and seek advice from other sources, the results are often dangerous. Before advising on how to avoid and treat swine flu naturally, let's examine the flaws in following the conventional advice.

It is necessary, for example, to question to current process of diagnosing and treating swine flu when it occurs. In many countries, so as to limit the outbreak, the advice is to refrain from visiting your doctor or hospital and instead do a self-assessment online or a telephone assessment to assess your likelihood of having swine flu. If it seems that you do indeed have the virus, you are advised that someone should collect a course of anti-viral drugs on your behalf - you cannot do this yourself.

There are several, glaringly obvious flaws within this system. Firstly, at no point does the ill person see a medical professional before receiving a diagnosis. We are essentially placing the diagnosis process in the patient's own hands, which will inevitably lead to over-exaggeration of symptoms, technical errors when completing the assessment, and misunderstanding of the assessment questions. Basically, people will be receiving a diagnosis of swine flu when they do not even have the virus.

However, regardless of whether a person actually has the H1N1 virus or some other illness, the end result will most likely be a course of Tamiflu., an anti-viral drug that has been rushed into the marketplace to placate the public's need for a 'cure' to be found.

Several experts have questioned the effectiveness of Tamiflu and the other drugs being used to treat swine flu, which have been in development since the outbreak of Bird Flu. The two major concerns that experts have about the drug are firstly whether any effect can still be achieved since the drug has been in storage for several years, but more worryingly the lack of understanding we have regarding the efficacy of the drug and the long-term effects of its use, since its speedy development and release naturally mean it is a product we know scarily little about.

Given this information, it is natural that many people are reluctant to use the anti-viral drugs even if they do become ill with swine flu, and these people are looking for alternative ways of avoiding and treating the virus.

It is possible to avoid and treat the H1N1 swine flu virus naturally through the use of diet and supplementation. The most important thing to do, both in terms of avoiding the virus and treating it quickly if you do become ill, is to focus on building a strong immune system. This will allow you to either completely avoid the virus or, if you become ill, to suffer only a mild case which is beaten quickly.

In order to maintain a strong immune system you will need to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle. Your aim should be to provide the body with the tools it needs to continue functioning correctly in a state of health and vitality. You should actively try to identify sources of stress in your life and minimise these, and should make the time to build in exercise each day.

You should choose a healthy, balanced diet with a specific focus on foods and nutrients with anti-viral properties. You will need to be strict and some of your favourite 'treats' may have to be sacrificed. In particular, you will need to avoid sugar, which parlyses the immune system each time it is consumed, and should limit your intake of processed food as much as possible. You should eat a diet made up of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, chosen for their colour in order to provide as wide a range of nutrients as possible, together with whole grains and lean sources of protein from lightly steamed oily fish such as mackerel, herring and salmon. You should also eat ground seeds (pumpkin, sunflower or flax) or their cold pressed oils each day as an additional source of essential fats, and should drink plenty of water each day in order to cleanse the body.

The specific anti-viral foods that you should include in your diet are coconut oil, cranberries, dandelion leaves, garlic and mango.

In addition to this diet, you should include the following supplements in your wellness programme:

2-4 doses of cell restoration formula daily
2 multivitamin and mineral - several vitamins will offer anti-viral effects. Supplementing individual vitamins and minerals is not recommended, unless done so under the guidance of a nutritionist
2 x antioxidants - these will boost the immune system
2 x essential fatty acids - these will boost the immune system

During any wellness programme, aloe vera is a common recommendation. This is not necessary as the glyconutrients contain mannose, the active ingredient in aloe vera.

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A H1N1 Influenza Virus - How Dangerous is It?

If you are following the News daily, more and more people from other parts of the Globe are being infected with A H1N1 virus or Swine Flu Virus. The Swine flu virus spreads out to other countries by way of people travelling from one country to another. How dangerous is it? Can it be controlled? Let us try to find out.

Novel influenza A (H1N1) or better known as Swine Flu Virus, is a new form of virus originated from the pigs which was first detected in April of 2009. This virus is found to be infecting people and is spreading from person to person. It is capable of spreading out in a pandemic scale and everybody is advised to take all necessary health and sanitary precautions. As of May 23, 2009, there are already 86 people reported dead out of 12,022 cases of A H1N1 influenza virus. In the United States alone, there are 9 casualties out of 6,552 cases.

This result is very alarming. How much more do we know about it today? It is thought that this virus spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. It means to say it spreads out through the sneezes and coughs of those people who are sick with the virus. We are not certain how severe the outbreak in terms of illness and death until now. Since this is considered as a new virus, scientists and doctors believe most people do not have the immunity yet to it. Sad to say, the vaccine for this illness has yet to be discovered. However, there are existing anti-viral drugs that can be prescribe by the doctors as an alternative and seems to be performing well.

The good news is that in the United States of America, a diagnostic test kit has been developed to detect this novel H1N1 virus and is now being distributed to all the states in U.S. and District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Fortunately, this test kit is also being shipped internationally.

What can we do to avoid getting infected? Well, keep updated. Stay away from crowded places if possible and avoid in close contact with people coughing and sneezing problem.

Stay healthy, take regular exercise and eat healthy foods. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash after using it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth since germs spread that way fast. Stay home if you are sick.

In my observation, the new influenza virus is dangerous, easy to get infected and a great potential to result into an outbreak, however, it is controllable and there are a high percentage of recovery rates being reported. Right now there is no cause to panic and be alarmed. We should not be nervous about it and we treat our day like normal. We just need to take more extra careful and be aware of what is happening in our area.

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How to Make an Onion Poultice For Congestion and Cold and Flu Symptoms

Did you know that onion poultices have always been used to relieve chest congestion? Onions have a long history for their healing benefits. A poultice is simply the mashed herb secured in some fabric and placed over the area of congestion on the body. The skin absorbs the medicinal properties quickly and more easily than through digestion.

Onion poultices are time tested herbal remedies and treatments for chest congestion and other symptoms of colds and flu. A poultice is simple and easy to make. The onion poultice is a powerful home remedy you can use for your whole family. And, onions are readily available and affordable!

How to Make an Onion Poultice:

Chop an onion into small bits. Let it set for a few minutes to draw out the powerful medicinal properties. The onion can be used raw or it can be sautéed gently. Put the chopped onion in the center of a square of fabric. You can use flannel, an old t-shirt or a pillowcase. Fold the fabric over and roll or fold the edges to make a 'hem'. Secure the edges with safety pins to keep the onion bits from falling out.

Place the poultice on the patient's chest or soles of the feet. The sole of the foot quickly absorbs herbal treatments, in fact, some people rub ointments like Vick's on the feet when they are sick. You can also place the poultice on sore joints and behind the ear for an ear infection. Check your patient every 15-30 minutes to make sure that there's not any skin irritation.

©2009 Shanna Ohmes

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Do You Know the Definition of Man Flu?

No, neither do I!  But I'm fortunate in that my other half and I are pretty healthy. I can't actually remember the last time either of us visited the doctor - except when we went to get our flu jabs. We've reached that sort of age, you see.

Consequently, I don't know much about the symptoms of Man Flu, other than what my daughters tell me in respect of sons-in-law. But when I had that jab, I found myself suffering with the female version. And boy, did I suffer! You know the sort of thing? Sleep having eluded you overnight, you wake up next morning feeling utterly ghastly: stuffed ears behaving as though they've been pumped full of the insulating foam that lines the cavity walls of your house (unless you happen to have shares in British gas); throat believing it's swallowed a golf ball, if not a tennis ball; head exploding; and nose like a blocked drain in need of a plumber and a plunger.

BEST TREATMENT FOR FLU? DEPENDS IF IT'S THE FEMALE VERSION

I don't know the cure for Man Flu, but hey! you're female. You gotta get out of bed. And doing the washing is woman's work. (What is it about men and a washing machine?) Whatever - it didn't get done over the weekend because you were trying to reduce the ironing pile before adding to it again, and a great heap now awaits you on the bathroom floor, scattered, because the family, if they noticed it at all, simply took it to be a novelty bath mat. As if that's not enough, there's a living to be earned. And if you work from home, as I do - job-sharing with my husband - there's no way you're going to get out of sitting in front a computer for at least part of every day. You groan.

HOW TO MAKE A TOASTED SANDWICH . . .

Your mother rings. 'You sound terrible', she says. But as she continues you realise that this is not so much sympathy for you as self-pity because you're not going to be a blind bit of use to her. She doesn't want to get what you've got, you see. You love her to bits, and you realise that at her great age, her needs are probably greater than yours.  But what answers can you give her when she's desperately in need of a holiday from your father and his dementia, there's no one else to look after him, and guilt prevents her from putting him into respite care. You listen, make what you intend to be soothing noises but actually sound more like a bull-frog in the mating season, and try to reinforce what your sister's been telling her.

Then your sister rings! 'What do you think we should do about Mum, Mel?' You'd like to be a time-traveller to some ethereal Desert Island, and give essence of Death Cap to both your sister and Alexander Graham Bell. Life could be sweet without the phone.

. . . WHEN YOU'RE THE MEAT PASTE IN THE MIDDLE

Your daughter rings to ask if you're well-enough to look after the twins next day because she's on a course. 'Of course,' you lie. 'What time does it end?' She tells you to have an early night, to look after yourself, and you know, because she's a mother, that she understands the futility of such advice. Next morning, she brings you her inhaler, and you hang your head over a rising mist of menthol which scrapes the skin off the back of your throat more effectively than nitro mores on varnish. The twins, fortunately, are subdued. Perhaps it's the sight of grandma's red shiny nose and scarecrow hair that make them look askance, as if she's a stranger to them.

MEDICATION FOR FLU

Your husband buys you some of those decongestants that make your tongue feel as if it's been hanging around the Sahara Desert for the last decade, and points out, lovingly, that they're the non-drowsy sort. You don't tell him, but you long for the drowsy sort which will give you the excuse of dropping off on the sofa after lunch. And then you spend night two in a state of demented hyperactive sleeplessness - only to discover that the stimulants in the non-drowsy formula are the cause.

By Wednesday your limbs are aching nearly as much as your ear, throat, jaw, teeth, neck and head. Is this the result of the flu you deny you have, or your fight with the duvet, the pillow and the mattress? After a cocktail of meds, you feel sick to your stomach, and the idea of falling under a bus seems infinitely more appealing than the (unlikely) offer of a holiday in Hawaii would be. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday run into each other in a sticky pool of snot and nausea.

APOLIGIES
Then comes today! And another article due. Hey, you think, I'll just let my readers know that I'm a little off colour, and ask them if they'll mind if I keep it short and sweet for now - just a sentence or two. So this is it folks. Sorry to let you down. Hope to be back with you properly soon!

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