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What is caused by meningitis?

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Anonymous

12y ago
Updated: 12/22/2022

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, which are membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Any virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasites (really, any organism) that can infect the meninges could be a cause of meningitis.

Typically, meningitis is caused by viral infections that will usually get better without treatment. Bacterial causes of meningitis are extraordinarily serious and require immediate emergency medical treatment. Fungal causes of meningitis are much less common among individuals, and are usually seen in immune compromised individuals.

Common viruses that cause meningitis include: viruses from the Herpes family (the ones that cause cold sores, genital herpes, and chicken pox / shingles), viruses that cause the mumps, the West Nile Virus, enteroviruses (like Polio), etc.

Common bacteria that cause meningitis include: Neisseria meningitidis (part of the normal mouth flora of 5-15% of adults), E. coli (normal inhabitant of our digestive tract), Listeria monocytogenes (why mothers are often advised to avoid lunchmeat), strep. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (which is not what a flu vaccine is for), etc.

Of the bacterial causes, Strep Pneumoniae and Neisseria account for the majority of the cases.

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Zackery Schumm

Lvl 13
2y ago

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