Meningitis is inflammation (swelling) of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Many things can cause it, and treatment depends on the cause — so an accurate diagnosis matters. Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency and needs treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms
| Common | Often also |
|---|---|
| fever | nausea |
| headache | vomiting |
| stiff neck | photophobia — eyes more sensitive to light |
| altered mental status — confusion |
In babies, the classic symptoms may be missing or hard to notice. Instead, babies may:
- be slow or inactive;
- be irritable;
- vomit or feed poorly;
- have a bulging fontanelle — the "soft spot" on the head;
- have abnormal reflexes.
Anyone with symptoms of meningitis should see a health care provider right away, to find out whether it's meningitis, what's causing it, and the best treatment.
Causes
- viral infections;
- bacterial infections;
- fungal infections;
- parasites;
- amebas;
- injuries;
- cancer;
- certain drugs.
Bacterial and viral meningitis are more common than the other types.
Diagnosis
Providers may take samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid around the spinal cord), and labs run tests matched to the suspected infection. Knowing the exact cause shapes treatment.
Meningitis is not meningococcal disease
The words are similar, but they aren't the same. Meningococcal disease is any illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis — serious illnesses that can, but don't always, include meningitis. And meningitis doesn't always mean meningococcal disease.
World Meningitis Day, each October 5, raises awareness of meningitis, its symptoms, and the vaccines that can help prevent it.
Sources
Based on "About Meningitis," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
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