Public Health Department
Meningitis Fact Sheet
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid/tissues of a person's spinal cord and those that surround the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacterium. 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 bacterial is causing the meningitis because antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting other people.
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis?
High fever, headache and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, sleepiness and behavior changes.
How is meningitis diagnosed?
Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If symptoms occur, the patient should see a doctor immediately. For bacteria, the diagnosis is usually made by growing bacteria from a sample of spinal fluid. For viral meningitis, laboratory tests of spinal fluid can be done, but identification of specific viruses is not usually done.
Can meningitis be treated?
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease. No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients recover completely on their own, and doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids and medicine to relieve fever and headache.
Is meningitis contagious?
Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. These bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions [i.e., coughing, kissing]. For specific bacteria like meningococcal meningitis [caused by the organism Neisseria meningitidis] and Haemophilus influenza type b, contacts such as household or day-care center, or anyone with direct contact with a patient's oral secretion [such as a boyfriend or girlfriend] would be considered at increased risk of acquiring the infection and may need to receive antibiotic prophylactic treatment.
For viral meningitis, the viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are very common during the summer and early fall and many people are exposed to them. Being exposed to someone with one of these viruses and becoming infected is relatively moderate, but there is a very small chance of developing meningitis [1 in 1,000 infected individuals].
What can I do to protect my family and myself?
Handwashing, especially before and after going to the restroom or before and after handling/preparing foods is one of the single most important methods to prevent communicable diseases.
There are vaccines against Haemophilus influenza type b, and against some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Anyone who develops unusual signs or symptoms of illness should seek medical attention immediately. For individuals who are otherwise healthy, they should continue with their usual activities such as working and attending school.
For further information, you should contact your health care provider, your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid/tissues of a person's spinal cord and those that surround the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacterium. 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 bacterial is causing the meningitis because antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting other people.
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis?
High fever, headache and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, sleepiness and behavior changes.
How is meningitis diagnosed?
Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If symptoms occur, the patient should see a doctor immediately. For bacteria, the diagnosis is usually made by growing bacteria from a sample of spinal fluid. For viral meningitis, laboratory tests of spinal fluid can be done, but identification of specific viruses is not usually done.
Can meningitis be treated?
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease. No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients recover completely on their own, and doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids and medicine to relieve fever and headache.
Is meningitis contagious?
Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. These bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions [i.e., coughing, kissing]. For specific bacteria like meningococcal meningitis [caused by the organism Neisseria meningitidis] and Haemophilus influenza type b, contacts such as household or day-care center, or anyone with direct contact with a patient's oral secretion [such as a boyfriend or girlfriend] would be considered at increased risk of acquiring the infection and may need to receive antibiotic prophylactic treatment.
For viral meningitis, the viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are very common during the summer and early fall and many people are exposed to them. Being exposed to someone with one of these viruses and becoming infected is relatively moderate, but there is a very small chance of developing meningitis [1 in 1,000 infected individuals].
What can I do to protect my family and myself?
Handwashing, especially before and after going to the restroom or before and after handling/preparing foods is one of the single most important methods to prevent communicable diseases.
There are vaccines against Haemophilus influenza type b, and against some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Anyone who develops unusual signs or symptoms of illness should seek medical attention immediately. For individuals who are otherwise healthy, they should continue with their usual activities such as working and attending school.
For further information, you should contact your health care provider, your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site.