We can see
in the news how meningitis is a hot topic nowadays, but what is it?
How
powerful is nature in front of the science?
Meningitis
is the name given to the inflammation of the meninges membranes that surround
the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation might be caused by different
viruses and bacteria causing headache, fever and stiff neck, nausea/vomiting,
and changes in behavior.
In order to
check if your symptoms are caused by this infection, several tests are prompt:
Evaluation of the blood, brain scanning, and cerebro spinal fluid analysis.
Once there is a confirmation of the infection, the treatment include: antibiotic,
antiviral, anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, and sedatives according to the
stage of the patient.
Now, what
it’s even more important: prevention. Of course, there is a vaccine to prevent
this infection, and is injected by 6 months of age 3 doses of Hib vaccine, and
then between 12 and 18 months, a fourth dose should be given.
Then, why
the number of infected people has increased? Well, as I said before the
infection is caused by different viruses and bacteria which might change for several
reasons, such as: combination to other stumps, mutation, resistance etc.
It seems
that technology is not perfect, it has its flaws when it comes to prevent or
cure some diseases, and that’s obvious since the natural world change every
once in a while in order to adapt to the new scenario. Technology move forward,
but apparently the natural world goes a step beyond.
What do you
think about it?
Well, technology in prevention for meningitis is not perfect, nor humans. I think that the only way to reduce the chances of getting meningitis would be manipulating the genes straight forward.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, vaccines are imperfect and sometimes spread the virus. Anyway, at least they help to decrease the rate of infection... imagine what would happen if there weren't any type of control! It’s just what happened years ago after having a cure for the AH1N1; everybody were ill and the virus were spreading all over the World.
ReplyDeleteEven though the control system invented to stop the viruses is not always perfect, at least it gives the chance to help some people. I think that at the end, just like what you said, the most important is the prevention and being aware of the problem.
Manipulate the genes could be an option, but what happen if that manipulation affect another area?
ReplyDeleteSure, vaccines aren't perfect, they're effective for a while and in that period of time thousand of lives are saved, but then the virus become resistance and mutate into something new, then the vaccine it's useful anymore.
That's what I was trying to pointing out, it seems that nature moves faster in order to play an important role in the natural selection.
If there were a cure for all diseases, then we would be immortal.
I strongly think this has directly to do with the inmunological system.
ReplyDeleteYou ask "why the number of infected people has increased?," but my answer is that maybe our defence system has decayed in efficiency. Why? given the fact that we spend long ours in front of the computer and never go outside, this way our body is unable to develop antibodies to fight back viruses and subsecuent infections.
Don't you think technology is working this time? Our body is the machine we have to take care of, but we don't.
I do believe that this virus is very dangerous. I was talking to my mother yesterday about this topic, and she told me that a doctor said that this virus is dangerous for children, but the ministry of health does not tell yet that it is also for people from 19 years to 22 years (I think, I cannot remember very well).
ReplyDeleteThe quantity of people that has infected by this virus might have increased because we are not living our lives in a good way. I am referring to the fact that we are not eating or sleeping well, and this might affect to our immunological system.
We should live our lives with calm, and have enough time for ourselves.