Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsComplicationsDiagnosisTreatmentSurvival Rate
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Survival Rate
Spinal meningitisis the inflammation of tissues, called themeninges, that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.It usually stems from an infection, leading to symptoms such as a stiff neck,fever, and severeheadache. There arevaccinesto prevent some types of spinal meningitis.
In some cases, spinal meningitis will resolve on its own. Others may be life-threatening and require antibiotics, hospitalization, and other medical treatments to prevent death or permanent disability.
This article explains what spinal meningitis is, including the symptoms, causes, diagnoses, and treatments.
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How Do You Get Spinal Meningitis?
The most commontype of spinal meningitisis viral meningitis. Other types are bacterial, parasitic, fungal, amoebic, and noninfectious.
Viral Meningitis
A virus causes the most common type of meningitis. Most people who get viral meningitis recover on their own without treatment within seven to 10 days.Non-polio enterovirusesare the most common causes of viral meningitis.
Enteroviruses can be passed through coughing, sneezing, or coming into contact with surfaces or objects contaminated with respiratory secretions.
Bacterial Meningitis
The bacteria that cause meningitis are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory secretions from carriers.
After infection, death can occur rapidly, sometimes as quickly as just a few hours. Those who recover may have residual disabilities, including brain damage, learning disabilities, or hearing loss.
Parasitic Meningitis
There are usually fewer than eight cases of amoebic meningitis per year in the United States.
Fungal Meningitis
Fungal meningitis is rare and usually affects people with compromisedimmune systems. In these people, a local fungal infection can disseminate (spread throughout the body) and quickly cause infection of the meninges.
Possible causes of fungal meningitis include:
Noninfectious Meningitis
Noninfectious meningitis causes inflammation in the absence of an infection.Common causes include brain cancer, autoimmune diseases likelupusorrheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic brain injury.
Symptoms of Spinal Meningitis in Adults and Children
Spinal meningitis can be hard to recognize in the early stages and quickly become serious if left untreated. This is especially concerning in young children who may be unable to describe what they are feeling. Knowing the signs can help you seek treatment before the symptoms become severe.
Symptoms of spinal meningitis may include:
Additional symptoms that may be seen in babies and small children include:
Complications of Spinal Meningitis
Some causes of spinal meningitis carry a high risk of mortality death, including bacterial, fungal, and amoebic meningitis.
When left untreated, severe meningitis can cause:
Shock, brain damage, and respiratory failure are among the main causes of death in cases like this.
How Spinal Meningitis Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing spinal meningitis usually starts with a physical exam in which your healthcare provider will collect a medical history and ask about your symptoms.
Other diagnostic tests may include:
How Spinal Meningitis Is Treated
Treatment options depend on the type of meningitis. When someone with meningitis becomes severely ill or is at risk for developing severe illness, a hospital stay is essential to preventing complications.
Treatment options include the following:
What Is the Survival Rate for Spinal Meningitis?
The prognosis for most people who get meningitis is positive. However, it is very dependent on the type of meningitis someone has. Early treatment is the best way to ensure a good prognosis.
For example, bacterial meningitis can be deadly within days after the onset of symptoms. Without antibiotic treatment, the prognosis is fatal. In addition, delayed treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities.
The rarest type, amoebic meningitis, is usually fatal even with treatment.
Summary
Spinal meningitis is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord due to an infection. Types of meningitis include viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and noninfectious. Symptoms typically include headache, fever, and neck stiffness. Some cases can be fatal, while others resolve on their own.
Treatment depends on the type of meningitis you get but may include antibiotics, antifungals, pain relievers, or hospitalization.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bacterial meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Parasitic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Amebic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal meningitis.Merck Manual.Noninfectious meningitis.La Russa R, Maiese A, Di Fazio N, et al.Post-traumatic meningitis is a diagnostic challenging time: a systematic review focusing on clinical and pathological features.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):4148. doi:10.3390/ijms21114148MeningitisNow.Signs and symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bacterial meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Parasitic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Amebic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal meningitis.Merck Manual.Noninfectious meningitis.La Russa R, Maiese A, Di Fazio N, et al.Post-traumatic meningitis is a diagnostic challenging time: a systematic review focusing on clinical and pathological features.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):4148. doi:10.3390/ijms21114148MeningitisNow.Signs and symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bacterial meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Parasitic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Amebic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal meningitis.Merck Manual.Noninfectious meningitis.La Russa R, Maiese A, Di Fazio N, et al.Post-traumatic meningitis is a diagnostic challenging time: a systematic review focusing on clinical and pathological features.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):4148. doi:10.3390/ijms21114148MeningitisNow.Signs and symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bacterial meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Parasitic meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Amebic meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal meningitis.
Merck Manual.Noninfectious meningitis.
La Russa R, Maiese A, Di Fazio N, et al.Post-traumatic meningitis is a diagnostic challenging time: a systematic review focusing on clinical and pathological features.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):4148. doi:10.3390/ijms21114148
MeningitisNow.Signs and symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers.
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