Men Who Have HIV Are 4 Times More At Risk For Meningitis
There is so much going on for men during the month of June, Father’s Day, Men’s Health week, and the National HIV Testing Day on June 27th. All of these days remind us to focus on the men in our lives, which includes yearly checkups that can help promote a healthier lifestyle. Many times diseases like HIV can lead to meningitis, which can be fatal.
Meningitis is a rare and potentially fatal disease most often caused by the meningococcal infection. These outbreaks were first noticed back in 2016 in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles in men who have sex with men (MSM), most of them also having HIV.
The bacteria in meningococcal infection can be transmitted through saliva, or if one lives with someone who has the disease. When someone has the infection, their membranes in the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. Some onset symptoms of the disease are fever, severe headaches, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and much more. Results of the disease may include hearing loss, damage to the central nervous system, seizures and more. If not treated immediately, long-term effects of the disease can result in death.
