Meningitis

Inflammation, usually infectious, of the meninges surrounding brain and spinal cord, typically involving pia and arachnoid mater, characterized clinically by acute onset of fever, headache, nuchal rigidity, and potential neurologic compromise. Possible causes are viral (enterovirus, herpes simplex, mumps, and measles), bacterial (pneumococcus, meningococcus, Hib), fungal (cryptococcus), parasitic/amoebic (Naegleria fowleri), or noninfectious (cancer, trauma, SLE, NSAIDs, antibiotics).