Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord, usually caused by infection, involving the pia mater and arachnoid mater and characterized by acute fever, headache, neck stiffness, and potential neurological impairment.

Causes

• Viral causes

  • Enteroviruses

  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV)

  • Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)

  • Mumps virus

  • Measles virus

• Bacterial causes

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

  • Neisseria meningitidis

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

  • Listeria monocytogenes

• Fungal causes

  • Cryptococcus species

  • Candida species

• Parasitic and amoebic causes: Naegleria fowleri

• Noninfectious causes

  • Malignancy-related meningeal inflammation (leptomeningeal carcinomatosis)

  • Trauma or neurosurgical procedures

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • Sarcoidosis

  • Autoimmune meningitis

  • Chemical irritation of the meninges

  • Inflammatory disorders affecting the central nervous system

  • Drug-induced aseptic inflammation: NSAIDs, antibiotics