Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability. For bacterial meningitis, it is also important to know which type of bacteria is causing the meningitis because antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting other people. Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, but new vaccines being given to all children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the occurrence of invasive disease due to H. influenzae. Today, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the meninges that are membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord.
Meningitis Symptoms
Meningitis Causes
Meningitis Mechanism
Meningitis Diagnosis
Meningitis Treatment
Meningitis Prevention
Meningitis Prognosis
History of Meningitis
Meningitis Types
Meningitis Research
Meningitis in Adults
Latest Meningitis News and Research
Study finds reductions in hospital admissions for childhood infections during first year of pandemic
During the first year or so of the covid-19 pandemic, there were dramatic reductions in hospital admissions for common and severe childhood infections in England, most likely due to social distancing measures, school and workplace closures, and travel restrictions, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
A nematode infection can become severe and deadly with the use of corticosteroids
Healthcare workers in tropical and sub-tropical settings where strongyloidiasis is prevalent or caring for patients who have travelled to such areas, need to maintain a high level of awareness about the use of corticosteroids, including when this class of anti-inflammatories is given to patients suspected of infection with SARS-CoV-2.
West African countries must increase COVID-19 vaccination rates to achieve population-level immunity
West African nations need to drastically ramp up their COVID-19 vaccination programmes by factor of 10 if they are to reach at least 60% coverage by 2022 and achieve the population level immunity needed to bring the pandemic under control in Africa and elsewhere, indicates an analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.
AI-based technology to identify patients at risk of serious illness as a result of blood infections
A new technology developed at Tel Aviv University will make it possible, using artificial intelligence, to identify patients who are at risk of serious illness as a result of blood infections.
Octapharma USA announces FDA approval of cutaquig 16.5% for pediatric PI patients
Octapharma USA today announced the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved cutaquig [Immune globulin, Subcutaneous (Human)-hipp, 16.5% Solution] for the treatment of pediatric patients age 2 and older with primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI). The FDA previously approved cutaquig for adults with PI.
Single-dose HPV vaccine could be effective for preventing cervical cancer
A single dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine could be effective for preventing cervical cancer, raising hopes of fighting the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, a conference has heard.
Study shows SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in human iPSC-derived neurons
In a study recently published on the bioRxiv preprint server, researchers attempted to further increase the scope of previous studies in examining SARS-CoV-2 infection of human CNS resident cells.
UC researchers engineer new probiotic to target and break down cancer cell defenses
Bacteria generally have a bad reputation, as people first think of certain strains that can cause serious illnesses like pneumonia or meningitis. However, there are many helpful bacteria, known as probiotics, that assist the body in different ways.
Trial positions single-dose HPV vaccination as a high impact public health intervention
In the push to eliminate cervical cancer, researchers delivered hopeful news Nov. 17 at the 34th International Papillomavirus Conference in Toronto.
Researchers identify compounds that tackle fungal infections in a new way
Current medications aren't particularly effective against fungi. The situation is becoming more challenging because these organisms are developing resistance to antimicrobial treatments, just as bacteria are.
Neurological complications are higher with SARS-CoV-2 infection than COVID vaccine, study finds
Research published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests a risk for neurological complications after the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the likelihood of developing neurological complications remains far greater among people infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
COVID-19 and subacute neuropsychiatric symptoms in adolescents
A new paper discusses neurologic symptoms in children with COVID-19.
Clinical trial shows no benefit of tamoxifen in treating deadly fungal meningitis
Hopes that tamoxifen could improve survival for a deadly form of fungal meningitis have been dashed by clinical trial results published in eLife.
New data reveals safety, efficacy of nusinersen drug delivery method for SMA patients with advanced disease
A recently published paper details the safety and efficacy of nusinersen administration via a subcutaneous intrathecal catheter system (SIC) for SMA patients with advanced disease.
The neurological effects of COVID-19
What is the relationship between COVID-19 and the brain? A new review published in Tropical Biomedicine summarizes the key findings on how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes severe COVID-19 infection, disrupts brain activity and produces a range of long-term neurological disorders.
Large study of COVID vaccine side effects in Sweden
Recently, researchers from Sweden reported population-based, age- and sex-specific background incidence rates of conditions that represent potential COVID-19 vaccine adverse events of special interest (AESI) in the general Swedish population with the help of registered data. This study is published on the medRxiv* preprint server.
WHO and partners launch the first ever global strategy to defeat meningitis
Today, the World Health Organization and partners launched the first ever global strategy to defeat meningitis - a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.
Diverse vaccine attitudes amongst UK healthcare workers suggest hesitancy may remain after vaccine acceptance
In a recent paper, the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy is further explored amongst UK healthcare workers.
Kawasaki Disease presents a growing threat to UK children's heart health
Today, on World Heart Day, Societi, the UK Kawasaki Disease Foundation is campaigning to protect tiny hearts — by highlighting the urgent need for awareness of Kawasaki Disease – the leading cause of acquired heart disease in U.K. children.