Summary
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the protective covering that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Most commonly caused by a viral infection, it may also result from infection with bacteria or fungus. Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than viral meningitis and can lead to hearing loss, learning disabilities, and brain damage. If not treated promptly, it can be deadly. This revised edition of Meningitis contains the most current information on the causes, spread, treatment, and prevention of the disease, as well as new illustrations and new case studies. Updates cover recent meningitis outbreaks, which are a persistent problem in schools and on college campuses, and a recently approved method of diagnosing meningitis more quickly.
Chapters include:
- Meningitis: Attack on the Nervous System
- Bacterial Meningitis
- Viral Meningitis
- Other Types of Meningitis
- Meningitis as a Silent Epidemic
- Epidemiology
- Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.
Specifications
Full-color photographs and illustrations. Sidebars. Further reading. References. Endnotes. Glossary. Web sites. Index.
About the Author(s)
Brian R. Shmaefsky, Ph.D., is a professor of biology at Lone Star College in Kingwood, Texas. He did his undergraduate studies in biology at Brooklyn College in New York and completed his master's and doctoral studies at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Shmaefsky also completed graduate work in environmental physiology at University of Illinois and Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. His research emphasis is currently in environmental toxicology issues and sustainable development. Shmaefsky has published books on topics such as biotechnology, human anatomy and physiology, and infectious diseases. He is active in environmental policy groups and has ongoing projects in Mexico and the Philippines. Shmaefsky lives in Kingwood, Texas.
Foreword by David Heymann, World Health Organization