Meningitis 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, which you get 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 block blood vessels in the brain and lead to stroke and brain damage. It can also harm other organs. Pneumococcal infections and meningococcal infections can cause bacterial meningitis. Anyone can get meningitis, but it is more common in people whose bodies have trouble fighting infections. Meningitis can progress rapidly. You should seek medical care quickly if you have A sudden fever A severe headache A stiff neck Early treatment can help prevent serious problems, including death. Vaccines can prevent some of the bacterial infections that cause meningitis. Parents of adolescents and students living in college dorms should talk to a doctor about the vaccination. NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Specifics Arachnoiditis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Bacterial Meningitis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Chronic Meningitis Merck & Co., Inc. Cryptococcal Meningitis New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Fungal Meningitis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Meningococcal Meningitis World Health Organization Non-Infectious Meningitis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Parasitic Meningitis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Viral Meningitis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diagnosis and Tests Blood Culture Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Ultrasound: Head (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Array Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection Cerebrospinal fluid culture Meningitis Meningitis – cryptococcal Meningitis – gram-negative Meningitis – H. influenzae Meningococcal Vaccines: What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: What You Need to Know Immunization Action Coalition Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Meningitis National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Meningitis, Aseptic National Institutes of Health Encyclopedia CSF analysis CSF cell count CSF smear Meningitis – meningococcal Meningitis – pneumococcal Meningitis – staphylococcal Meningitis – tuberculous Sinus x-ray Subdural effusion Syphilitic aseptic meningitis Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome Genetics Genetics Home Reference: complement component 8 deficiency National Library of Medicine Prevention and Risk Factors Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine: What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Children Meningitis Nemours Foundation Meningitis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Risk of Bacterial Meningitis in Children with Cochlear Implants Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Start Here Meningitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Meningitis and Encephalitis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Meningitis and Encephalitis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Meningitis Myths and Facts for Consumers National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Teenagers Meningitis Nemours Foundation Meningococcal Vaccine: A Guide for Teens Children’s Hospital Boston Spinal Tap Nemours Foundation Women Meningococcal Disease (Bacterial Meningitis) Vaccine and Pregnancy Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Images Meningococcal Photos Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Find an Expert National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Journal Articles Meningitis Related Issues Travelers’ Health: Meningococcal Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Statistics and Research Treating Meningitis American Academy of Neurology
