About Meningitis

Key points

• Meningitis is inflammation (swelling) of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
• Many different things can cause meningitis.
• An accurate diagnosis is important because treatment depends on the cause.
• Be aware that bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.

What it is

Meningitis is inflammation (swelling) of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

World Meningitis Day

Each year, World Meningitis Day is observed on October 5. The observance aims to raise awareness about meningitis, its symptoms, and vaccines that can help prevent it.

Learn more about World Meningitis Day.

Symptoms

Common meningitis symptoms include

• Fever
• Headache
• Stiff neck

There are often other symptoms, such as

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
• Altered mental status (confusion)

Symptoms in babies

Newborns and babies may not have, or it may be difficult to notice, the classic symptoms listed above. Instead, babies may

• Be slow or inactive
• Be irritable
• Vomit
• Feed poorly
• Have a bulging fontanelle (the "soft spot" on a baby's head)
• Have abnormal reflexes

When to seek emergency care

Anyone with symptoms of meningitis should see a healthcare provider right away. A healthcare provider can determine if you have meningitis, what's causing it, and the best treatment.

Causes

Many things can cause meningitis:

• Viral infections
• Bacterial infections
• Fungal infections
• Parasites
• Ameba
• Injuries
• Cancer
• Certain drugs

Bacterial or viral meningitis are more common than the other types of meningitis.

Testing and diagnosis

If healthcare providers suspect meningitis, they may collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid surrounding the spinal cord). Then laboratories can perform specific tests, depending on the type of infection suspected. Knowing the specific cause is important because treatment differs depending on the cause.

Myths and misconceptions

Meningitis and meningococcal disease are not the same thing even though the words are similar.

Having meningitis doesn’t always mean you have meningococcal disease. And having meningococcal disease doesn’t necessarily mean you have meningitis.

Meningococcal disease is any illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. These illnesses are serious and can but don't always include meningitis.

Keep ReadingMeningococcal Disease

Resources

World Health Organization's Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030

Where this page came from

This page was imported from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Material produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a work of the United States government and is in the public domain.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.