Meningitis is not something anyone ever expects to contract, so when they do, it can be an extremely confusing time. Last year, New England Compounding Pharmacy distributed tainted shots that infected hundreds of people with fungal meningitis. Now, many individuals are wondering what fungal meningitis is and how it is different from other forms of meningitis they had heard about in the past.
Aside from fungal meningitis, the other main types of meningitis include bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis. While bacterial and viral meningitis are contagious, fungal meningitis is not. Viral meningitis is probably the most common form. It is usually triggered by any number of viruses, and in most cases it is less serious than other forms. People who get viral meningitis will usually completely recover. Bacterial meningitis, however, is very serious and can lead to death if it is not treated immediately. Fungal meningitis is more rare than bacterial and viral meningitis. It usually appears in someone that has an impaired immune system.
The symptoms for all three forms of meningitis are fairly similar, and include fever, headache, stiff neck and mental status changes.
Bacterial meningitis is usually treated with antibiotics, while viral meningitis clears up on its own. Antibiotics don't help viral infections, so doctors will usually wait to let the virus run its course in 7-10 days. Fungal meningitis, on the other hand, is treated with long courses of high-dose antifungal medications, usually given through an IV. The antifungal medications can take quite a toll on the patient's body, depending on the dosage and length of treatment.
Although fungal, bacterial and viral meningitis are all different, there's one thing for certain: you don't ever want to have to deal with any of them.
If you live in Oklahoma, Texas or Arkansas and you contracted fungal meningitis from New England Compounding Pharmacy's tainted steroid shots, contact Girards Law today for a free consultation at 888-897-2762.