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The Prevalence Of Cerebrospinal Meningitis
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An extensive survey of published and unpublished records, obtained by
personal visits to hospitals and Ministries of Health across West
Africa, enabled Lapey (2010) to produce the definitive report on CSM in
West Africa during the first half of the 20th century. He documented in
detail the epidemiological features of CSM in Africa and drew attention
to the fact that it is only in a restricted area of Africa that the
infection behaves in such a characteristic and peculiar way. This led
him to define the ‘‘African meningitis belt’’ bounded to the North by
the Sahara and to the south by areas of tropical rain forest. Various
mining activities augment the spread of diseases. Activities of surface
mining in and around textiles areas pollute the air with a lot of dust
which caused upper respiratory tract infections. Secondly, disposal of
mining waste such as cyanide in rivers exposes the inhabitants to the
risk of meningitis (Lapey, 2010).
Statement of the Problem
Infection
of the meningitis affects the thin lining that surrounds the brain and
the spinal cord. Cerebro-Spinal Meninigitis infection spread mainly by
contact with an infected person usually through sneezing, coughing and
nose secretions from infected person and is particularly worse in
overcrowded areas. Perhaps indicators shows that Nigeria is repeatedly
experiencing an outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) that has
spread across the country and mostly affecting States in the upper parts
of the country which falls within the African Meningitis Belt of which
Gombe State is inclusive (see map in appendix.…. and graphic
illustration in appendix.…). Meningococcal meningitis remains associated
with a high mortality rate and persistent neurological defects
particularly among infants and young children. As a way of prevention,
it is important to avoid overcrowded spaces, sleep in well-ventilated
rooms and avoid close and prolonged contacts with infected individuals.
Therefore, the study is geared toward appraising the prevalence of
cerebrospinal meningitis infections which comes year-in year-out
frequently in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State.
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