Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
How Common Is Meningitis?
Causes and Risk Factors
Mortality Rates
Screening and Early Detection
Meningitisis inflammation of the membranes calledmeningesthat protect and support the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis symptoms usually include a severe headache, a stiff neck, and a fever.
Viral meningitis is the most common type and typically resolves independently without treatment. Bacterial meningitis, however, can be deadly without fast antibiotic treatment.Early diagnosis is essential to determine the correct course of treatment.
Here are the meningitis facts you should know.
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Meningitis Overview
Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissues called meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. There are several types:
Vaccines are available to protect people against some kinds of bacterial meningitis but not other types.
Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis in the United States and worldwide. Although painful and uncomfortable, this type typically resolves independently without medical intervention.
Cases of fungal, parasitic, and amebic meningitis occur in the United States. However, they are incredibly uncommon.
Here is a brief overview of the prevalence of different types of meningitis in the United Sates:
Meningitis can affect people of any age and gender. However, infants, teens, young adults, and older adults have the highest rates of meningococcal disease in the United States.
Bacterial meningitis affects men slightly more than women, accounting for about 55% of all cases. There are approximately 1.2 cases per 100,000 in men, compared to 1 case per 100,000 population among women.
Also, meningitis symptoms may present differently in men and women. One study on bacterial meningitis patients at a hospital reported that:
The study concluded that bacterial meningitis in males differs significantly from females regarding presenting symptoms and signs, abnormal laboratory and imaging analysis, and predictors of adverse clinical outcomes.
Causes of Meningitis and Risk Factors
Viruses that can cause meningitis include:
Certain bacteria cause meningitis.Strains responsible for causing the most U.S. bacterial meningitis cases include:
Research shows a slightly higher risk for bacterial meningitis in college students (particularly those living in dorms) compared to others their age who are not in college. Some college campuses have reported outbreaks of bacterial meningitis in recent years.
What Are the Mortality Rates for Meningitis?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 10 people with bacterial meningitis die. Also, about 1 in 5 have severe complications such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. Some infected people can die in a few hours to a few days.
According to one study, the case fatality rate of fungal meningitis patients was about 9% with treatment. However, the fatality was 100% without treatment.Amebic meningitis is almost always fatal. However, there have only been about 148 U.S. cases since 1962.Parasitic meningitis infection is almost always fatal within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of meningitis disease can vary depending on the type of disease. However, the most universally common symptoms include:
Other symptoms may include:
Other diagnostic tests for meningitis include:
Diagnostic imaging of the brain and spine is also used to diagnose meningitis and can include:
Summary
Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges that protect and support the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis symptoms usually include a severe headache, a stiff neck, and a fever. Early diagnosis is essential to determine the correct course of treatment and improve the chances for a full recovery.
Screening and early diagnosis for meningitis are essential. If you or a loved one is experiencing any signs or symptoms of meningitis, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
17 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.Medline Plus.Meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Viral meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Bacterial meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Fungal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Parasitic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Amebic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Non-infectious meningitis.McGill F, Griffiths MJ, Solomon T.Viral meningitis: current issues in diagnosis and treatment.Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;30(2):248-256. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000355. PMID: 28118219.National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD).Meningitis, bacterial.Meningitis Now.Rare types of meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Age as a risk factor for meningococcal disease.Dharmarajan L, Salazar L, Hasbun R.Gender differences in community-acquired meningitis in adults: Clinical presentations and prognostic factors. J Meningitis. 2016 Jun;1(1):106. Epub 2016 Apr 8. PMID: 27500284; PMCID: PMC4975558.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Community settings as a risk factor.World Health Organization (WHO).Meningitis.Dorratoltaj N, O’Dell ML, Bordwine P, Kerkering TM, Redican KJ, Abbas KM.Epidemiological effectiveness and cost of a fungal meningitis outbreak response in New River Valley, Virginia: Local health department and clinical perspectives. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018 Feb;12(1):38-46. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.32.Mallewa M, Wilmshurst JM.Overview of the effect and epidemiology of parasitic central nervous system infections in African children. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2014 Mar;21(1):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2014.02.003.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Travelers health. Meningococcal disease.
17 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.Medline Plus.Meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Viral meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Bacterial meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Fungal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Parasitic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Amebic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Non-infectious meningitis.McGill F, Griffiths MJ, Solomon T.Viral meningitis: current issues in diagnosis and treatment.Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;30(2):248-256. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000355. PMID: 28118219.National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD).Meningitis, bacterial.Meningitis Now.Rare types of meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Age as a risk factor for meningococcal disease.Dharmarajan L, Salazar L, Hasbun R.Gender differences in community-acquired meningitis in adults: Clinical presentations and prognostic factors. J Meningitis. 2016 Jun;1(1):106. Epub 2016 Apr 8. PMID: 27500284; PMCID: PMC4975558.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Community settings as a risk factor.World Health Organization (WHO).Meningitis.Dorratoltaj N, O’Dell ML, Bordwine P, Kerkering TM, Redican KJ, Abbas KM.Epidemiological effectiveness and cost of a fungal meningitis outbreak response in New River Valley, Virginia: Local health department and clinical perspectives. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018 Feb;12(1):38-46. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.32.Mallewa M, Wilmshurst JM.Overview of the effect and epidemiology of parasitic central nervous system infections in African children. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2014 Mar;21(1):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2014.02.003.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Travelers health. Meningococcal disease.
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.
Medline Plus.Meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Viral meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Bacterial meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Fungal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Parasitic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Amebic meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Non-infectious meningitis.McGill F, Griffiths MJ, Solomon T.Viral meningitis: current issues in diagnosis and treatment.Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;30(2):248-256. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000355. PMID: 28118219.National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD).Meningitis, bacterial.Meningitis Now.Rare types of meningitis.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Age as a risk factor for meningococcal disease.Dharmarajan L, Salazar L, Hasbun R.Gender differences in community-acquired meningitis in adults: Clinical presentations and prognostic factors. J Meningitis. 2016 Jun;1(1):106. Epub 2016 Apr 8. PMID: 27500284; PMCID: PMC4975558.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Community settings as a risk factor.World Health Organization (WHO).Meningitis.Dorratoltaj N, O’Dell ML, Bordwine P, Kerkering TM, Redican KJ, Abbas KM.Epidemiological effectiveness and cost of a fungal meningitis outbreak response in New River Valley, Virginia: Local health department and clinical perspectives. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018 Feb;12(1):38-46. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.32.Mallewa M, Wilmshurst JM.Overview of the effect and epidemiology of parasitic central nervous system infections in African children. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2014 Mar;21(1):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2014.02.003.Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Travelers health. Meningococcal disease.
Medline Plus.Meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Viral meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Bacterial meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Fungal meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Parasitic meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Amebic meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Non-infectious meningitis.
McGill F, Griffiths MJ, Solomon T.Viral meningitis: current issues in diagnosis and treatment.Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;30(2):248-256. doi: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000355. PMID: 28118219.
National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD).Meningitis, bacterial.
Meningitis Now.Rare types of meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Age as a risk factor for meningococcal disease.
Dharmarajan L, Salazar L, Hasbun R.Gender differences in community-acquired meningitis in adults: Clinical presentations and prognostic factors. J Meningitis. 2016 Jun;1(1):106. Epub 2016 Apr 8. PMID: 27500284; PMCID: PMC4975558.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Community settings as a risk factor.
World Health Organization (WHO).Meningitis.
Dorratoltaj N, O’Dell ML, Bordwine P, Kerkering TM, Redican KJ, Abbas KM.Epidemiological effectiveness and cost of a fungal meningitis outbreak response in New River Valley, Virginia: Local health department and clinical perspectives. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2018 Feb;12(1):38-46. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2017.32.
Mallewa M, Wilmshurst JM.Overview of the effect and epidemiology of parasitic central nervous system infections in African children. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2014 Mar;21(1):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2014.02.003.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Travelers health. Meningococcal disease.
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