CNN —
Legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck died Wednesday at the age of 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and deep sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s death,” the statement said. “He passed away peacefully yesterday after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis. His family requests privacy as they process this tremendous loss.”
Incredible as it is death can occur within hours of contracting bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord. The swelling is typically caused when an infection attacks the fluid that lines the brain and spinal cord. However, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people recover from the disease.
“Those who recover may have permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities,” the CDC noted on its website.
Symptoms of the disease can resemble the flu or Covid-19 and include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting, brain fog, sensitivity to light, drowsiness or trouble waking up, and a stiff neck.
“Meningitis can be acute, with rapid onset of symptoms, it can be chronic, lasting a month or more, or it can be mild or aseptic,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
See a doctor right away if you or a loved one have a sudden high fever, a severe headache that doesn’t go away, confusion, vomiting, or a painful, stiff neck with restricted movement.
Babies are more vulnerable than other age groups, according to CDC. Signs to look out for include irritability, vomiting, inactivity, poor feeding, abnormal reflexes, and a bulging “soft spot.” or Fontanelle, on the head. If you have concerns, call the doctor right away.
A number of bacteria can cause meningitis, as can viruses, parasites, fungi, amoebas, and some injuries, drugs, and conditions such as lupus or cancer. Treatment differs depending on the cause of meningitis, so it’s important to know the source. To find out, the doctor takes blood samples or performs a spinal tap, which he sends to a lab for analysis.
“Doctors treat bacterial meningitis with a variety of antibiotics. It’s important to start treatment as soon as possible,” the CDC said.
Viral meningitis, while serious, is much less deadly than the bacterial version, and people with normal immune systems usually get better on their own, the CDC said.
A viral case of meningitis is “generally not considered contagious,” according to Meningitis Now, a UK-based information and support organization.
“Unlike the meningococcal form of bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis is not transmitted to others through close contact, so preventive treatment for relatives is not required,” the group explained.
The types of bacteria that cause meningitis can be spread in a number of ways. Group B streptococci and E. coli bacteria can be passed from mother to child during childbirth.
Pregnant women are also susceptible to infection with Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to “miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening neonatal infections, including meningitis,” according to the CDC.
Several other bacteria that cause meningitis—Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae—are spread to others through coughing or sneezing. Bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis spread by sharing saliva or spit, which typically occurs when people kiss, cough, or live in close contact.
Not everyone who spreads the bacteria that causes meningitis gets sick. Some people carry these germs in their noses or on their bodies without even knowing it.
“These people are ‘porters’. Most carriers never get sick, but can still spread the bacteria to others,” the CDC noted.
People with certain medical conditions, such as HIV infection or severe immunodeficiency, those who don’t have a spleen, and patients undergoing chemotherapy are more likely to get the disease, the CDC said. Travelers to sub-Saharan Africa, which has a “meningitis belt” stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia, are also at increased risk.
Meningococcal disease refers to any disease that is caused by meningococci. The infection can lead to both meningitis and a serious bloodstream infection called sepsis, or blood poisoning. Sepsis can spread throughout the body within hours, rapidly leading to gangrene of the extremities and organ failure.
A rash can be a sign of meningococcal meningitis, along with the typical symptoms of high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and sensitivity to light.
“Meningococcal disease is rare and has been declining in the United States since the 1990s. However, it is a serious disease with a significant risk of death or permanent disability in people who get it,” according to the CDC.
“Even if treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 in every 100 people infected. And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 in 100 will experience disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, loss of limbs, nervous system problems or severe scarring from skin grafts,” the agency added.
Cases occur during summer camps or in dormitories due to the cramped spaces, claiming the lives of students like Sara Stelzer, a freshman at San Diego State University. She died three days in 2014 after contracting a strain of meningococcal meningitis that was not included in the recommended vaccine at the time.
Keeping you and your family up to date on immunizations is an important way to prevent bacterial and viral meningitis, the CDC advised.
There are four basic types of vaccines: pneumococcal vaccines, Hib vaccines, two meningococcal vaccines, and the Bacille-Calmette-Guérin vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis.
A meningococcal vaccine protects against serogroups A, C, W, and Y. To protect against serogroup B, the disease that has killed a number of college students, another vaccine called MenB is used.
The effectiveness of the vaccine may decrease over time, so it is advisable to check with your doctor if you may need a booster shot.