Meningitis is the medical term for inflammation of the meninges, the coverings of the brain. The meninges form three layers, namely the outer dura mater, middle pia mater, and inner arachnoid. Various organisms have been found to be capable of causing meningitis in humans. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Hemophilus influenzae are the species of bacteria that commonly cause this problem.

The viruses that commonly produce meningitis are Enteroviruses, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2, and the West Nile virus. Cryptococcus and Coccidioidomycosis are the fungi that have been found to trigger the condition too.  Other than the above mentioned pathogenic organisms, Group B Streptococci (GBS), Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes can cause meningitis in newborns, aged people, and individuals whose immune system is in a state of compromise.

Rarely, meningitis may be a manifestation of Lyme disease, neurosyphilis, or tuberculosis. Although the meninges may be the seat of the infection in a number of cases, yet in most cases, this condition may develop due to the spread of an infection via the blood from some other part of the body, such as the respiratory tract. In some cases, this spread may be from areas that lie close to or can easily connect to the meninges like the middle ear, paranasal sinuses, and teeth.

Head injury, structural defects in the meninges, past neurological surgeries, poor immunity, and exposure to patients suffering from meningitis can also increase the risk of suffering from this disease.  Meningitis patients usually complain of high fever with severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, and projectile vomiting along with malaise, irritability, and reduced appetite. Some patients may also develop increased sensitiveness to light (photophobia) or suffer from convulsions with altered consciousness. A hemorrhagic rash on the legs is typically observed in many cases of meningococcal meningitis.

The investigations that are generally done to diagnose the condition include complete blood cell count (CBC), serum electrolytes, lumbar puncture for microscopic examination of the cerebrovascular fluid, and polymerase chain reaction tests to find out whether the disease is viral in origin. Treatment is almost always symptomatic, along with the administration of antibiotics. At times, steroids may also have to be used to suppress inflammation. Antipyretics are used to decrease the fever and anticonvulsive drugs may have to be administered to control the seizures.

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Tags: Arachnoid, Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococcus, Dura mater, Enteroviruses, Escherichia coli, Group B Streptococci, Hemophilus influenzae, Herpes simplex virus-2, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Listeria monocytogenes, Meningitis, Meningococcal meningitis, Neisseria meningitidis, Pia mater, Streptococcus pneumoniae, West Nile virus

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