Inflammation of the meninges due to a bacterial infection. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis before the 1990s, but new vaccines given to children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the occurrence of invasive disease due to H. influenzae. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are now the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.
High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect, and the infant may only appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.
The diagnosis is confirmed by examining a sample of spinal fluid obtained by a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Treatment is started as early as possible. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of most common types of bacterial meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk is higher among the elderly.
Some types of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria are spread through respiratory and throat secretions. This is true with meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcal meningitis) or Hib. People in the same household or day-care center, or anyone with direct contact with a patient's oral secretions (such as a boyfriend or girlfriend) are at increased risk of acquiring the infection and should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting the disease. Antibiotics for contacts of a person with Hib meningitis disease are no longer recommended if all contacts 4 years of age or younger are fully vaccinated against Hib disease.
There are vaccines against Hib and against some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines against Hib are considered safe and highly effective. There is also a vaccine that protects against four strains of N. meningitidis, but it is not routinely used in the US and is not effective in children under 18 months of age. The vaccine against N. meningitidis is sometimes used to control outbreaks of some types of meningococcal meningitis in the US. A vaccine to prevent meningitis due to S. pneumoniae (also called pneumococcal meningitis) can also prevent other forms of infection due to S. pneumoniae. The pneumococcal vaccine is not effective in children under 2 years of age but is recommended for all persons over 65 years of age and younger persons with certain chronic medical problems.

Sinusitis is inflammation of the lining membrane of any of the hollow areas (sinuses) of the bone of the skull around the nose. The sinuses are directly connected to the nasal cavities.• Sinusitis is inflammation of air cavities (sinuses) in the skull.
• Sinusitis can cause pain in the face, teeth, or head.
• Sinusitis can be either infectious or non- infectious.
• Infected sinusitis is usually caused by uncomplicated virus infection.
• Bacterial infection of the sinuses is suspected when facial pain, pus nasal discharge and symptoms persist for longer than a week and are not responding to over-the-counter nasal medications.
• Bacterial sinusitis is usually treated with antibiotic therapy.
Sinusitis, when treated in an appropriate manner early in the course of the illness, can usually be treated effectively. It is important to seek the advice and evaluation of your physician if you suspect that you have sinusitis. If you are prone to recurrent bouts of sinusitis it may be important for you to consider allergy testing to see if this is the underlying cause of your recurring problem.

: Inflammation and swelling of the bronchi. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic.
Chronic bronchitis usually is defined clinically as a daily cough with production of sputum for 3 months, two years in a row. In chronic bronchitis, there is inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways that lead to narrowing and obstruction of the airways. The inflammation stimulates production of mucous (sputum), which can cause further obstruction of the airways. Obstruction of the airways, especially with mucus, increases the likelihood of bacterial lung infections.

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died from the infection. Currently, over 3 million people develop pneumonia each year in the United States. Over a half a million of these people are admitted to a hospital for treatment. Although most of these people recover, approximately five percent will die from pneumonia. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Pneumonia can be a serious and life-threatening infection. This is true especially in the elderly, children and those that have other serious medical problems such as emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Fortunately, with the discovery of many potent antibiotics, most pneumonias are successfully treated. In fact, most pneumonias can be treated with oral antibiotics and without the need for hospitalization.
• Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of microorganisms.
• Symptoms of pneumonia include cough with sputum production, fever, and chest pain when breathing in.
• Diagnosis of pneumonia is suspected when a doctor hears abnormal sounds in the chest and confirmed by a chest x-ray.
• Bacteria causing pneumonia can be identified in sputum by culturing.
• A pleural effusion is a fluid collection around the inflamed lung.
• Bacterial and fungal (but not viral) pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics.

Infection with bacteria belonging to the genus Salmonella. Salmonellosis is a common cause of food poisoning as, for example, from raw eggs.
The symptoms of salmonellosis usually begin within 12 to 24 hours of exposure to the bacteria and include stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and sometimes vomiting. The diagnosis can be confirmed by examination of a stool sample for the Salmonella bacteria.
Most people exposed to Salmonella feel well within a few days and do not require treatment other than extra fluids. Some people need antibiotics. And a few need hospitalization for diarrhea and dehydration. Salmonellosis is particularly dangerous in people with immunodeficiency and in people with sickle cell anemia.
If the infection spreads from the intestines, it may be treated with ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin. Unfortunately, some Salmonella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, largely as a result of the use of antibiotics to promote the growth of feed animals.

Tetanus is an acute, often-fatal disease of the nervous system which is caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. This bacteria is found throughout the world as a normal element in the soil and in animal and human intestines.
The tetanus toxin affects the site of interaction between the nerve and the muscle that it stimulates. This region is called the neuromuscular junction. The tetanus toxin heightens the chemical signal from the nerve to the muscle which causes the muscles to continuously tighten up in a huge continuous ("tetanic" or "tonic") contraction or spasm.
During a 1 to 7 day period, progressive muscle spasms caused by the tetanus toxin in the immediate wound area may progress to involve the entire body in a set of continuous muscle contractions. Restlessness, headache, and irritability are common.
The tetanus neurotoxin causes the muscles to tighten up into a continuous ("tetanic" or "tonic") contraction or spasm. The jaw is "locked" by muscle spasms, giving the name "lockjaw" (also called "trismus"). Muscles throughout the body are affected, including the vital muscles necessary for normal breathing. When the breathing muscles lose their power, breathing becomes difficult or impossible and death can occur without life-support measures. Even with breathing support, infections of the airways within the lungs can lead to death.
General measures to treat the sources of the bacterial infection with antibiotics and drainage are carried out in the hospital while the patient is monitored for any signs of compromised breathing muscles. Sedation is often given for muscle spasm.
In more severe cases, breathing assistance with an artificial respirator machines may be needed.
The toxin already circulating in the body is neutralized with antitoxin drugs. The tetanus toxin causes no permanent damage to the nervous system after the patient recovers.
After recovery, patients still require active immunization because having the tetanus disease does not provide natural immunization against a repeat episode!