Is meningitis fatal?

my father is in the hospital w meningitis. he is in a lot of pain. he was given morphine this evening. i have been told he does not have long to live, is this true?

Yes Meningitis is fatal and very very painfull, If they told you he doesn't have long to live then he doesn't. Im sorry.

http://www.webmd.com/hw/infection/aa3452...

I can't second guess a doctor but sounds like he might have let it go on too long. So sorry for your troubles. You can get a second opinion if you want to be sure. That might not be a bad
idea. I am sending you strength to help you face this and a
hug and a shoulder to lean on.

Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency and has a high mortality rate if untreated. All suspected cases, however mild, need emergency medical attention. Empiric antibiotics must be started immediately, even before the results of the lumbar puncture and CSF analysis are known.

The choice of antibiotic depends on local advice. In most of the developed world, the most common organisms involved are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis: first line treatment in the UK is a third-generation cephalosporin (such as ceftriaxone or cefotaxime). In those under 3 years of age, over 50 years of age, or immunocompromised, ampicillin should be added to cover Listeria monocytogenes. In the US and other countries with high levels of penicillin resistance, the first line choice of antibiotics is vancomycin and a carbapenem (such as meropenem). In sub-Saharan Africa, oily chloramphenicol or ceftriaxone are often used because only a single dose is needed in most cases.

Staphylococci and gram-negative bacilli are common infective agents in patients who have just had a neurosurgical procedure. Again, the choice of antibiotic depends on local patterns of infection: cefotaxime and ceftriaxone remain good choices in many situations, but ceftazidime is used when Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a problem, and intraventricular vancomycin is used for those patients with intraventricular shunts because of high rates of staphylococcal infection. In patients with intracerebral prothetic material (metal plates, electrodes or implants, etc.) then sometimes chloramphenicol is the only antibiotic that will adequately cover infection by staphylococcus aureus (cephalosporins and carbapenems are inadequate under these circumstances).

is it viral or bacterial?

Meningitis can be fatal. There are different kinds of meningitis. A little boy in our church had it, but he didn't die. But I've heard of others who have. I don't know what to tell you.
Do a Google search and read up on it so that you're correctly informed.

If the doctor says so...but from my knowledge...it can be fatal but not usually if caught soon enough... and remember it's not over until it's over.. My best wishes to you...

it depends on the type of meningitis your father has. if it is bacterial meningitis, it can be cured with antibiotics and medcations, but is is a long recovery and can be very painful. if it is viral meningitis, it is harder to cure because anti-viral medications dont often completely cure it. oftentimes, viral meningitis is fatal unless it is caught very early. unfortunately, by the time a person starts having symptoms and starts feeling sick its too late and it is too far progressed. hopefully your dad has the bacterial form which can be cured with intensive antibiotic therapy rather than the viral form.

Viral meningitis tends to be fatal.

Bacterial meningitis is treatable.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, or the three layers that surround the brain. (Dura mater, arachnoid layer, subarachnoid space, and pia mater.)

It sounds like you are going through a tough time right now. I am very sorry to hear that your father is in the hospital with meningitis. I am sorry to tell you this but yes it can be fatal. I know that it is a very painful disease. Believe me I know how you feel. My father just spent 45 days in the hospital with congestive heart failure, I am so happy that he is doing better now but yesterday my mother was admitted to the hospital for breathing problems and I was in the hospital last month with pnuemonia. I know that you probably feel overwhelmed right now but trust in the lord and pray as I will for your father. I hope everything turns out alright for you. God Bless

I'm sorry to hear that. Yes meningitis can be fatal. If the medical staff have told you that he doesn't have long to live..then he almost certainly doesn't have long..But morphine can bring a great sense of peace as well as pain loss. Remember that I have been told that the last sense to go is hearing..so that even if your father is not responding he may be able to hear you. Take care of yourself.

I had meningitis when I was 5 months old. Back in 1962. When they didnt have ct scans, etc. The doc. back then drilled tiny holes. ( guessed ) where to find the fluid build up in my skull when I was a baby in 3 different places. Then he found it ! A bunch of fluid splashed out ! It releived pain in my head. My mom said I was crying day and night. I was in and out of the hospital for 5 months back then. & Today I'm 43 years old. I used to drive till 12 years ago. I lost my license. I have seizures from the meningitis. its common. All Prayers are with your DAD !! Hang in there.