Meningitis

Also called: Spinal meningitis

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Summary

Meningitis is inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. There are several types of meningitis. The most common is viral meningitis. You get it when a virus enters the body through the nose or mouth and travels to the brain. Bacterial meningitis is rare, but can be deadly. It usually starts with bacteria that cause a cold-like infection. It can cause stroke, hearing loss, and brain damage. It can also harm other organs. Pneumococcal infections and meningococcal infections are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis.

Anyone can get meningitis, but it is more common in people with weak immune systems. Meningitis can get serious very quickly. You should get medical care right away if you have:

A sudden high fever
A severe headache
A stiff neck
Nausea or vomiting

Early treatment can help prevent serious problems, including death. Tests to diagnose meningitis include blood tests, imaging tests, and a spinal tap to test cerebrospinal fluid. Antibiotics can treat bacterial meningitis. Antiviral medicines may help some types of viral meningitis. Other medicines can help treat symptoms.

There are vaccines to prevent some of the bacterial infections that cause meningitis.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

Inflamed Brain: Recognizing Encephalitis and Meningitis (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Meningitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Diagnosis and Tests

Bacteria Culture Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Nasal Swab (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Procalcitonin Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture) (Nemours Foundation)
Ultrasound: Head (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV): What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23): What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Issues

Encephalitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Travelers' Health: Meningococcal Disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Specifics

Arachnoiditis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Bacterial Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Fungal Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Meningitis (World Health Organization) Also in Spanish
Non-Infectious Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Parasitic Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Subacute and Chronic Meningitis (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
Viral Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Images

Meningococcal Photos (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

Treating Meningitis (American Academy of Neurology) - PDF

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Meningitis (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Meningitis, Aseptic (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Children

Meningitis (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Meningitis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Women

Meningococcal Disease (Bacterial Meningitis) Vaccine and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cerebrospinal fluid culture (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Gram-negative meningitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
H influenzae meningitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Meningitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Meningitis - cryptococcal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV): What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23): What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish