1. Which doctor should be consulted for meningitis?

You can Consult a General Physician.

2. Is meningitis contagious?

Yes, some bacteria and virus causing meningitis are infectious and spread from on person to another. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, laughs, talks the infecting particles become airborne and can spread to another. Sharing food, drinking glasses, utensils, tissues, towels can transmit the infection. Some infectious organisms are also present in the stool of the infected person and can spread to someone who comes in contact with the stool.

3. Is there a high risk group for contracting the disease?

Individuals who are suffering from immuno suppressive disorders like HIV, diabetes, malignancies and those on immunosuppressants can contract the disease easily. Similarly young children and the elderly, household contacts of patients, military recruits, college students living in close quarters are at risk of getting the disease.

4. Are there vaccines against meningitis?

Yes ,there is a vaccine against a bacteria causing meningitis called the Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine. Hib vaccine is one of the childhood vaccines given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12-15 months of age. Hib vaccine is also given to the high risk group.But the vaccine protects only from against meningitis caused by this bacteria.