Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the area surrounding your brain and spinal cord (meninges). It’s sometimes called spinal meningitis.

Your meninges protect your brain and spinal cord from injury and provide support and structure. They contain nerves, blood vessels and protective fluid (cerebrospinal fluid).

Infectious diseases, like viruses and bacteria, and non-infectious conditions, like cancer or head injuries, can cause meningitis.

What is spinal meningitis?

Spinal meningitis is another name for meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges surrounding your brain and spinal cord.

What is aseptic meningitis?

Aseptic meningitis is any case of meningitis where the fluid around your brain and spine (CSF) tests negative for bacteria. This means either the bacteria causing meningitis is difficult to grow or that your case of meningitis isn’t caused by bacteria. The most common cause of aseptic meningitis is a viral infection.

What’s the difference between meningitis and encephalitis?

The difference between meningitis and encephalitis is the location of the inflammation. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord and encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain itself.

What are the types of meningitis?

Types of meningitis are typically named for the cause or for how long you’ve had symptoms. They include:

• Bacterial meningitis.
• Viral meningitis.
• Fungal meningitis.
• Parasitic meningitis. Meningitis caused by certain parasites is called eosinophilic meningitis or eosinophilic meningoencephalitis (EM).
• Primary Amebic Meningitis (PAM). Meningitis can be caused by the ameba Naegleria fowleri.
• Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM). Rarely, certain medications cause drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and antibiotics are the most common causes of DIAM.
• Chronic meningitis. When meningitis has lasted a month or more, it’s called chronic meningitis.
• Acute meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is often acute, meaning that symptoms are severe and come on suddenly.

Who is at an increased risk of meningitis?

Your age, where you live or travel and certain health conditions can increase your risk of meningitis.

You’re at higher risk for meningitis if you:

• Are under 5 years old. About 70% of all bacterial meningitis cases affect children under age 5.
• Have a weakened immune system. You might have a weakened immune system if you’re living with HIV or cancer, if you’ve received an organ or bone marrow transplant or if you’re on medications that suppress your immune system.
• Live in a group setting, like in a college dorm.
• Have a CSF leak.
• Don’t have a spleen or have a damaged spleen.
• Live in or travel to places where infectious diseases that cause meningitis are common.
• Have chronic nose and ear infections, pneumococcal pneumonia or a widespread blood infection.
• Have a head injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury.
• Are living with sickle cell disease.
• Are living with alcohol use disorder.