Causes of Meningitis


The most common causes of meningitis include viruses, bacteria and fungi; viral infection being the prime transmission agent of the disease. However, there are a few causes that are non-infectious. They are as follows:

  • Bacteria have the ability to mimic human cells in order to enter the body and reside there.
  • Viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis attack the immune system when it is weak and vulnerable and that is when symptoms of meningitis are manifested.
  • Those individuals who have suffered trauma to the skull probably in the form of an accident or perhaps surgery are more susceptible to contracting bacterial meningitis.
  • Research suggests that meningitis risk factors could include a history of ear infection and/or procedures.
  • Certain anatomical defects can increase an individua's risk of contracting meningitis. These anatomical defects could include skull fractures, especially if the location of the fracture is toward the base of the brain, anywhere within the vicinity of the sinuses or near the petrous pyramids.

Frequently asked questions
References
  1. Justine Miranda, Allan R. Tunkel, Strategies and New Developments in the Management of Bacterial Meningitis, Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, Volume 23, Issue 4, December 2009, Pages 925-943, ISSN 0891-5520, 10.1016/j.idc.2009.06.014.
  2. Charles S Bryan, Kenneth L Reynolds, Linda Crout, Promptness of antibiotic therapy in acute bacterial meningitis, Annals of Emergency Medicine, Volume 15, Issue 5, May 1986, Pages 544-547, ISSN 0196-0644, 10.1016/S0196-0644(86)80990-8.
  3. Swati Waghdhare, Ashwini Kalantri, Rajnish Joshi, Shriprakash Kalantri, Accuracy of physical signs for detecting meningitis: A hospital-based diagnostic accuracy study, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, Volume 112, Issue 9, November 2010, Pages 752-757, ISSN 0303-8467, 10.1016/j.clineuro.2010.06.003.