The Project Questions

For this project we were given a list of questions to direct our research in addition to the two essential questions. Here they are with their answers. My goal here is to know the answers to the questions, so I was not careful in my paraphrasing and there is very little analysis.

How was the disease discovered?
Menincococcal Meningitis was first described in 1805, when an outbreak spread through Geneva, Switzerland. The bacteria which caused this outbreak was identified in 1887. (This information is from the WHO's website :http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/)

What are the social connotation for the disease? How have these evolved over time?

In my research, I have not found information regarding a public attitude or social connotation regarding meningitis. In the meningitis belt, especially during an epidemic, nearly everyone is susceptible to the disease. In other areas, cases are more sporadic and the disease doesn't seem to receive much attention from the public at all.

Why are some cultures better equipped to combat the disease?

As I have said in previous posts, richer areas can afford preventative measures and treatments. This stops the disease early and prevents epidemics. In poor areas, there is less access to treatment, and less access to preventative vaccines. In the African Meningitis Belt, unstable conditions and an inconvenient climate make combating Meningitis much more difficult.

How has the disease changed or evolved over time?

Although I have been unable to find a history of the disease, I know that treatment, prevention, and prognosis have changed. Before anti-biotics, most people who contracted bacterial meningitis died of it. Those who did not die suffered permanent damage. With anti-biotics, meningitis patients can be treated with anti-biotics and make a full recovery. Also, there are preventative vaccines now which are recommended for the people who are most at risk.

Who has access to the drug?

The vaccines and anti-biotic are more readily available in the United States and other wealthy nations. It is possible, however, to get treatment (anti-biotics) around the world.

What impact does location in the world have on: a) exposure to the disease? b) conditions that cause it?

An outbreak can occur anywhere where people are in contact with each other. However, one is more susceptible to the disease in an area where there is less treatment. Living in close contact with others also leads to more spreading of the disease. The most recent epidemic outside of the Meningitis Belt was in Mongolia (WHO website from above). The meningitis belt in sub-Saharan Africa has large epidemics and more cases of Meningitis because of their dry climate.

How has the disease evolved due to human or animal migration?

As I understand it, Meningitis has always shown up sporadically around the world. During epidemics, the disease will sometimes spread due to travel and seasonal migrations.

How does climate affect exposure to the disease?

There is some detail about this in my previous posts, but in the Meningitis belt, dry weather and dust storms harm muccosal barriers making people less immune to the disease.

What drug is used to treat the disease?

For this project, I have focused my research on penicillin, other anti-biotics can be used. There are also preventative vaccines.

How does the drug work in regard to interaction with biological systems?

Penicillin breaks down the bacterial cell walls making it impossible for the bacteria to "reproduce." This cures the disease.

How was the drug developed?

Penicillin is derived from penicillium molds. The anti-bacterial properties of these molds were discovered long before the drug was tested. During WWII, English scientists began research into the development of the drug. Because of the high cost of research, these scientist could not get the funding they needed in England in the midst of the war. Because of this, they were forced to move their research to the United States. When the drug was first used, it was used only by the allies.

Who has access to the drug?

Although a majority of the world's penicillin is manufactured in China, the drug is available to anyone with money.

What is the cost of the drug?

According to this site, http://www.lhepner.com/janfeb05news.html, it is about $5/bou. I don't know what that means, but all the information I found seems to say that penicillin is cheap.

Are there potentially detrimental side effects?

The most common side effects are things like diarrhea and upset stomach. However, severe penicillin allergies are not uncommon.

Are there more than one possible treatments? What are they?

Other anti-biotics can be used to treat meningitis as well. Oily chloramphenicol is often used during epidemics in Africa. Meningitis patients are also sometimes given medication for pain and fever, such as acetaminophen.

More to come...