Viral meningitis is the most common and least serious type. Bacterial meningitis is rare, but can be very serious if not treated. A number of meningitis vaccinations provide protection against many of the infections that can cause meningitis. The infection is usually spread by people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat, but are not ill themselves.
The infection can also be spread by someone with meningitis, although this is less common. Those who do recover can have permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. Mycobacterium tuberculosis , which causes tuberculosis or TB , is a less common cause of bacterial meningitis called TB meningitis. Many of these bacteria can also be associated with another serious illness, sepsis. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Sepsis happens when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. These risk factors include:. In many countries, TB is much more common than in the United States. Travelers should avoid close contact or prolonged time with known TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments for example, clinics, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters.
Certain germs that cause bacterial meningitis, such as L. But most of these germs spread from one person to another. How people spread the germs often depends on the type of bacteria. It is also important to know that people can have these bacteria in or on their bodies without being sick.
Here are some of the most common examples of how people spread each type of bacteria to each other:. People usually get sick from E. Pregnant people with a Listeria infection may not have any symptoms or may only have a fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, including meningitis. Pregnant women can pass group B Streptococcus group B strep to their baby during delivery.
Newborns infected with group B strep can develop meningitis or other serious infections soon after birth. Talk with your doctor or midwife about getting a group B test when you are 36 through 37 weeks pregnant. Doctors give antibiotics during labor to women who test positive in order to prevent infections in newborns. Kids older than 11 who haven't been vaccinated also should be immunized, particularly if they're going to college, boarding school, camp, or other places where they'll live in close quarters with others.
This includes kids who:. A newer type of meningococcal vaccine called MenB protects against a type of meningococcal bacterium not covered by the older vaccine. Kids 10 years and older who have a higher risk for infection should get this vaccine.
Others who are not at increased risk may also get it between the ages of 16 and 23 preferably between 16 through 18, which is when the risk of getting infected is highest.
The decision to get the MenB vaccine should be made together with their parents and the doctor. Kids and adults should wash their hands well and often, particularly before eating and after using the bathroom, and if they work closely with kids as in a daycare. Avoid close contact with someone who looks ill and don't share food, drinks, or eating utensils.
In some cases, doctors may give antibiotics to anyone who has been in close contact with a person who has bacterial meningitis to help prevent infection. Get medical care right away if you think that your child has meningitis or you see symptoms such as:.
If your child has been near someone who has meningitis, call your doctor to ask about preventive medicine. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Meningitis? What Causes Meningitis? Bacterial Meningitis Bacterial meningitis is rare, but is usually serious and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
Viral Meningitis Viral meningitis also called aseptic meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually less serious. Common symptoms include: fever lack of energy irritability headache sensitivity to light stiff neck skin rash Meningitis in Infants Infants with meningitis might have different symptoms.
Other symptoms of meningitis in babies can include: jaundice a yellowish tint to the skin stiffness of the body and neck a lower-than-normal temperature a weak suck a high-pitched cry How Is Meningitis Diagnosed?
How Is Meningitis Treated? What Problems Can Happen? Can Meningitis Be Prevented? Vaccinations Routine immunization can go a long way toward preventing meningitis.
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