Today, meningitis can be treated with antibiotics. Nevertheless, research from the Karolinska Institute shows that many people suffer permanent damage after the illness.
Children in particular are affected, and this can have major consequences because the brain is still developing.
The damage can affect learning, movement, and the senses for the rest of a person’s life.
3,500 people studied
Researchers analyzed data from more than 3,500 individuals who had the disease in childhood. They were compared with more than 32,000 individuals without the disease.
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The results, published in JAMA Network Open, show that former patients are far more likely to experience neurological problems.
These include impaired memory, hearing, vision, and motor function, as well as an increased risk of seizures.
There is also a significantly higher risk of severe brain damage compared with the general population.
Why does brain damage occur?
Antibiotics do not reach the brain quickly enough, and during this period, nerve cells can be damaged.
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Researchers are therefore working on new treatments that can protect the brain while the infection is being treated.
Initial results appear promising, but further research is needed.
The study shows that around one in three people who had the disease in childhood live with at least one permanent neurological impairment.
Sources: Forskning.se, and Jama Network Open.
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