Meningitis
Study finds new pneumococcal vaccine appears to be as safe as previously used vaccine
The new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) appears to be as safe as the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), according to a Kaiser Permanente study published ...
Medications
19 hours ago |
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Study examines outbreak of spinal infections in Michigan
(HealthDay)—Factors such as increased case finding may explain why Michigan had half of the total spinal infections associated with contaminated methylprednisolone acetate in the recent fungal meningitis ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 21, 2013 |
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Measles surges in UK years after flawed research (Update)
More than a decade ago, British parents refused to give measles shots to at least a million children because of now discredited research that linked the vaccine to autism. Now, health officials are scrambling ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 20, 2013 |
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Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa
(Medical Xpress)—The newest public health threat in Africa, scientists have found, is coming from a previously unknown source: the banded mongoose. Leptospirosis, the disease is called. And the banded mongoose ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 14, 2013 |
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Genome sequencing provides unprecedented insight into causes of pneumococcal disease
A new study led by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the UK has, for the first time, used genome sequencing technology to track the changes in a bacterial population ...
Genetics
May 05, 2013 |
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Canada, Uganda test drug to treat brain disease
Canada is funding testing in Uganda of a popular off-patent antidepressant drug to fight a fungal brain disease that claims more than half a million lives in sub-Saharan Africa every year.
Medications
May 01, 2013 |
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Pfizer Q1 profit up, but drugmaker cuts outlook
Pfizer Inc.'s first-quarter net income rose 53 percent despite falling sales, mainly because the world's second-largest drugmaker took big charges a year ago. Pfizer's results fell short of Wall Street's ...
Other
Apr 30, 2013 |
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Researchers make significant step forward in combating antibiotic resistance
The research led by Durham University, which involved colleagues at the University of Birmingham, is a significant development in combating antibiotic resistance; it will pave the way for the creation of the inhibitors to ...
Medical research
Apr 24, 2013 |
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Childhood meningitis associated with lower levels of educational achievement
In a study that included nearly 3,000 adults from Denmark, a diagnosis of meningococcal, pneumococcal, or Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in childhood was associated with lower educational achievement and economic self-s ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Apr 23, 2013 |
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Indianapolis pharmacy recalls compounded drugs
(AP)—A pharmacy that makes specialty medications is recalling nearly 100 compounded drugs after federal regulators found potential safety problems during an inspection.
Medications
Apr 23, 2013 |
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Analysing meningitis genes to identify new treatments
Scientists at the University of Liverpool are working to identify genes involved in the development of bacterial meningitis to support the search for new vaccine candidates.
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Apr 19, 2013 |
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Calif. man diagnosed with meningitis is brain dead
(AP)—A 33-year-old West Hollywood man who felt sickened by bacterial meningitis earlier this week has been declared brain dead amid warnings to sexually active gay men about the deadly strain of illness, officials said.
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Apr 13, 2013 |
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FDA cites sanitary issues at specialty pharmacies
(AP)—The Food and Drug Administration says it has uncovered troubling sterility problems at 30 specialty pharmacies that were inspected following a recent outbreak of meningitis caused by contaminated drugs.
Health
Apr 12, 2013 |
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Combo therapy helps knock out fungal meningitis
(HealthDay)— A drug regimen containing two powerful antifungal medicines—amphotericin B and flucytosine—reduced the risk of dying from cryptococcal meningitis by 40 percent compared to treatment with ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Apr 03, 2013 |
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Mass. pharmacy recalling some compounded products
(AP)—A Massachusetts pharmacy has issued a voluntary recall of some sterile compounding products.
Medications
Mar 25, 2013 |
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Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore the condition is classified as a medical emergency.
The most common symptoms of meningitis are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light (photophobia) or loud noises (phonophobia). Sometimes, especially in small children, only nonspecific symptoms may be present, such as irritability and drowsiness. If a rash is present, it may indicate a particular cause of meningitis; for instance, meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria may be accompanied by a characteristic rash.
A lumbar puncture may be used to diagnose or exclude meningitis. This involves inserting a needle into the spinal canal to extract a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that envelops the brain and spinal cord. The CSF is then examined in a medical laboratory. The usual treatment for meningitis is the prompt application of antibiotics and sometimes antiviral drugs. In some situations, corticosteroid drugs can also be used to prevent complications from overactive inflammation. Meningitis can lead to serious long-term consequences such as deafness, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and cognitive deficits, especially if not treated quickly. Some forms of meningitis (such as those associated with meningococci, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococci or mumps virus infections) may be prevented by immunization.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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