Q - What are the long term effects of spinal meningitis?

A - Long term effects of spinal meningitis frequently occur when treatment is not optimal but they may also occur after receiving the best of treatment.

The common long term effects include :

Brain abscess - This is the collection of puss inside the brain. Puss is formed by dead white blood cells and bacteria. It is produced when the body's immune system (through the white blood cells) fights against bacteria, kills many of them and some of the white blood cells die in the process. Brain abscess is removed by surgery or some worse complication may occur.

Coma - If meningitis leads to widespread brain damage, it could cause loss of consciousness which is also known as coma.

Seizures - Meningitis may lead to damage of some brain cells and make them abnormally active. This abnormal activity can manifest itself as seizures which occur at intervals after the episode of meningitis is over. Seizures may continue to happen long after the meningitis infection is resolved.

Deafness - The nerves that help in hearing may be damaged due to meningitis, and this will make the person affected become deaf.

Blindness - This happens when the nerves that help us see are damaged as a result of meningitis. It may affect one eye or both eyes.

Answered - March, 2007