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Meningitis

Meningitis - bacterial; Meningitis - viral; Meningitis - fungal; Meningitis - vaccine

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.

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Brudzinski's sign of meningitis
Kernig's sign of meningitis
Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
Meninges of the brain
Meninges of the spine
Haemophilus influenza organism

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Causes

The most common causes of meningitis are viral infections. These infections usually get better without treatment. But, bacterial meningitis infections are very serious. They may result in death or brain damage, even if treated. A lumbar puncture (or spinal tap) is required to determine the specific cause.

Meningitis may also be caused by:

Many types of viruses can cause meningitis:

Symptoms

Enteroviral meningitis occurs more often than bacterial meningitis and is milder. It usually occurs in the late summer and early fall. It most often affects children and adults under age 30. Symptoms may include:

Bacterial meningitis is an emergency. You will need immediate treatment in a hospital. Symptoms usually come on quickly, and may include:

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

You cannot tell if you have bacterial or viral meningitis by how you feel. Your health care provider must find out the cause. Go to a hospital emergency department right away if you think you have symptoms of meningitis.

Exams and Tests

Your provider will examine you. This may show:

If the provider thinks you have meningitis, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) should be done to remove a sample of spinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) for testing.

Other tests that may be done include:

Treatment

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial meningitis. Antibiotics do not treat viral meningitis. But antiviral medicine may be given to those with herpes meningitis.

Other treatments will include:

Outlook (Prognosis)

Early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis is essential to prevent permanent neurological damage. Viral meningitis is usually not serious, and symptoms should disappear within 2 weeks with no lasting complications.

Possible Complications

Without prompt treatment, meningitis may result in the following:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

If you think that you or your child has symptoms of meningitis, get emergency medical help immediately. Early treatment is key to a good outcome.

Prevention

Certain vaccines can help prevent some types of bacterial meningitis:

Household members and others in close contact with people who have meningococcal meningitis should receive antibiotics to prevent becoming infected.

Related Information

Meningitis - cryptococcal
Syphilitic aseptic meningitis
H influenzae meningitis
Meningococcal meningitis
Pneumococcal meningitis
Staphylococcal meningitis
Meningitis - tuberculous
Gram-negative meningitis
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References

Hasbun R, Van de Beek D, Brouwer MC, Tunkel AR. Acute meningitis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 87.

Nath A. Meningitis: bacterial, viral, and other. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 384.

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Review Date: 12/4/2022  

Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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