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Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection in the fluid that is around the brain and spinal cord. Swelling from meningitis can harm or destroy nerve cells and cause bleeding in the brain. The causes of spinal meningitis are most often a bacterial or viral infection. These infections are known as bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis, respectively. Bacterial meningitis has a high death rate if left untreated, so it requires immediate medical attention.

 

What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection in the fluid that is around the brain and spinal cord.
 
Most often, the body's immune system is able to contain and defeat an infection. But if the infection passes into the bloodstream and then into the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, it can affect the nerves and travel to the brain and/or surrounding membranes, causing inflammation.
 
This swelling from meningitis can harm or destroy nerve cells and cause bleeding in the brain.
 

Causes of Meningitis

The causes of spinal meningitis are most often a bacterial or viral infection. These infections are known as bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis, respectively. Meningitis also may be caused by:
 
  • A fungal infection
  • A reaction to certain medications or medical treatments
  • An inflammatory disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
  • Some types of cancer
  • A traumatic injury to the head or spine.
     

Symptoms of Meningitis

Common meningitis symptoms include:
 
  • High fever
  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Discomfort looking into bright lights
  • Sleepiness or confusion.
     
In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of meningitis (such as fever, headache, and neck stiffness) may be absent or difficult to detect, and the infant may only appear slow or inactive. The infant may also be irritable, have vomiting, or be feeding poorly. As the meningitis progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.
 
Any person who is showing signs or symptoms of meningitis should seek immediate medical care by contacting their doctor or going to a clinic or emergency room.
 
(Meningitis Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD